Perfect Love drives out Fear

It's my first time to go to Lupang Arenda by myself.

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.

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.

These young people need to realize that, even though they were born "poor", they can still do something great with their lives!

And so, we started forming small groups to encourage them.

4 years was a roller coaster ride with them.

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.

Today's challenge?

Going there by myself.

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.

But today, my heart was tested. How much do I really love the young people there?

Would I go there by myself, even with all the risks?

Would I still go all the way to Lupang Arenda, even if it's just for one person?

And by the grace of God,

love eclipsed every bit of fear.

There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.1 John 4:18

Little Setbacks are Little Tests of Faith

Chip boards for the exhibit on Sunday ... wet.

'Cause imperfections make better stories to tell!

How To "Truly" Worship God

It was a productive night with some of our youth group's college girls.

Nica and I were in charge of presenting Gencon's history for our 10th anniversary on Sunday.

We aren't the most creative, so we knew we needed help.

Good thing these princess-warriors of God made themselves available!

Our own version of a monopod selfie =))

It was a great night with them. We also had a short (?) devotion together on the Romans 12:1. We all wanted to truly and properly worship God. And God sought our hearts and rebuked us as we realize that we were not really worshipping God if we stubbornly remain in our comfort zones. We cannot really say that we were offering our bodies as living sacrifice, if we do not experience the pain and the joy that comes from sacrificing. Indeed, it was time for all of us to stand and to do things that are hard and difficult, all for the glory of God!

We offer this one to God.

Whew! Long day tomorrow!

The Real Deal

During birthdays, it's very common to hear how the celebrant thanks God for n years of faithfulness.

Tonight, I saw someone who did not express this gratitude in mere empty words.

She extended what she has experienced in God to people who need it most, instead of just splurging on narcissism or self-love.

Meet Nica Estrellado.

Happy birthday to an inspiring lady!

Thank you for inviting me to come along and be in this memorable celebration. :)

I love you!

#RevolutionizingBirthdays

Cheap dreams are for cheap dreamers!

Have you ever had something you bought at a bargain price?

You knew it was cheap, that's why you do not take care of it so much.

Cheap clothes? These are the stuff you would easily do a DIY with.
Cheap book? You let anyone borrow it knowing it can get lost.

Cheap phone?  With this one, you don't mind a lil scratch.
Cheap notebook? This you offer to kids to sabotage.

Ever thought you were not meant to do great things in your life?
"Err.. Those great things are only for great people. Not for me. I'm a nobody and I lead a very simple life. Great stuff? Uh-uh. Not for me."

Sometimes, our insecurities bring us into thinking that we are not as valuable as what God sees is in us.

That's why we do not value our lives too much, much less our spiritual lives.
We become too contented doing so-so stuff for God and not dreaming big.
All because we think we're little and big stuff is for pastors, or whoever else.
"Not me. I'm already contented with what I do for God."
"I go to church.. Teach kids at Sunday school.. blerbler."

And you stop there. You forget that you could actually dream and pray for something big.
You forget that you serve a big God who can do just anything.
You forget that you serve the most amazing God who deserves your best.

This is one manifestation of our insecurities
These insecurities do not come from God.
These come from the world that always tries to say that we're not good enough.
Sometimes, just so we'd buy their products, companies repeatedly tell us that we are not white enough, not flawless enough, not wise enough, not healthy enough.. We are bombarded by these all our lives.
Little insecurities from having pimples, to big ones like not being able to talk as good as <insert name her>, they overwhelm us.
We had mistakes. When we failed, people around us think we are big walking failures (or at least that's what we think).
These pile up to give us an unhealthy perspective saying that we are not good enough for anything.
So we settle oh-so-easily to doing things with mediocrity.
We think we are nobodies who lead cheap lives. Like cheap clothes, cheap phone, cheap stuff, we don't care what happens with our "cheap" lives, when we see ourselves invaluable.

Fret not. Though you may indeed have some parts of you which you could actually be insecure about, you have a limitless God where you can find your security! The great things that are ahead of you, aren't there because of your own greatness, but because of your great God. Greatness is not all about you, it's just fitting for the greatness of your God.
Yes, you might not be good enough to do great things, but your God is so great that He enables the "not-good-enough" servants to do great things!

Now that God is in the picture.. The great God whose hands made the universe, I'll ask you..
You think teaching kids at Sunday school is your best? Nah I don't think so.
Dream big and pray that your passion for kids extends, and that time would come that more kids would hear of God's love through you!
You think encouraging a few girls is you best? Nah I don't think so.
Dream big and pray that more women would hear the testimony you have, and that more who underwent the same challenges would learn from what God has done in your life!
There are many things we do today that are good enough.
But we know that these are not yet our best. We still have something to give, we still have something to offer to God!
(I'm not saying that the little things we do aren't good, they're actually admirable because we should serve God in the littlest things.. But we have to understand that God knows we can do more)
If it's God's will, the great things you would dream of would certainly come your way, just shake off the great hindrances - insecurities.
Who knows, God might have even greater things in mind for your life, so you would have an even greater encounter with Him. ☺

It's about time for you to break free from these insecurities that hinder you to
dream big for your ministry!
Maglilingkod ka na rin lang, sagarin mo na!

Photo grabbed here.

How are you dreaming for your ministry? How are insecurities hindering you to give God your very best?

Partners in Service

Last Sunday, Jopel and I went to Arenda for their 2nd Anniversary, with the theme Overcome.

While waiting for the service to start, I met these pretty young ladies and talked with them :)

All of them were wearing pink. They had yellow strips of fabric which they asked me to style for them. :) I tied them into headbands and bracelets. Hihi I'm not much of an artist but these kids sure saw me as a very creative ate :P

I was shocked hearing their stories. They talked about rapists, killers, traumatized boys.. Woah! My head turned while I was talking to them. I mourn at how exposed they are to the wickedness of this world, as young as they are.. :(

Praise & Worship.

(I'm sorry Joy, the Worship Team's pianist, I can't take any picture of you that night.. Laging may nakaharang)

 My camera was not so cooperative that night. But I thank God that I still managed to get a few souvenirs from last night :)

He talked about how to be victorious, how to overcome. The text was Joshua 1.

1. Hold onto God's promises.

When someone tells us what to do, we don't just automatically do it. We somehow assess why we should do it. And when we see the good outcome, that's when we decide to actually to it. It's the same with winning a war. When God tells us to fight, like fighting

2. Engage in the war.

There are no wars to be victorious in, when you are not fighting at all.

How do you taste victory if you don't even engage in war? When you see the enemy, fight it! Don't ignore and expect triumph. Haha!

3. Be strong and courageous.
Our Father, our army's King, can defeat anyone and destroy anything. May it be your sins, your struggles, your problems, your weakness.. Name it, and He can defeat it! However, if we His soldiers, His hands and feet in this land, would be too cowardly, this won't happen. We won't experience the triumph God wants to share with His soldiers who are willing to participate!

Last January, Gencon was moved to 4pm, which conflicted with our commitments to Arenda. We had to choose between Gencon and Arenda. We prayed for it hard, until God showed us everything that was happening with Gencon (MMF ministry), and we knew it’s the best time to be a breathing and kicking part of Gencon! So we had to talk to the young people that we had to say good bye. We did not know how long we would have to miss Arenda. This March, their Second Anniversary, Overcome, brought us back to our dear young people in Arenda! J

Jopel and I have been going to Arenda since 2010, I guess? In my post about my friendship with Jopel, I talked about working in the ministry with him. Here’s a picture from last year, after the youth group’s first anniversary.

We thought of taking a picture as a remembrance after everything..
We were too busy praying and preparing before and during the service! Haha!

Apparently, Jopel was also the “surprise” speaker in their first anniversary, March last year. The anticipated speaker suddenly texted that circumstances changed and he cannot go to Arenda. Only 30 minutes before the service started did Jopel start doing his sermon for that night! He finished his sermon in a fleeting 30-minute adrenaline rush! Haha I remember that day, I did not know how to help him. I just sat in the far end of the room and prayed for him and his sermon.

God is really amazing! That night was definitely a night of revival. I thought his sermon that night was very powerful. I stood there in awe of what God’s grace can do, especially when circumstances aren't too cooperative. 

Partners in Crime Service

It is my first time to have a ministry partner like Jopel. For a friendship like ours, where we pray for each other and constantly ask God what He wants for our relationship, being ministry partners is a big avenue where we encounter God together.

Prayer sure is important in any boy-girl relationships. (Especially when you two have feelings for each other) Because when emotions are involved, temptations tango around you.

Likewise, ministry gives two people a deeper encounter with their Lord. (and brushes away unnecessary idle moments of sweet-sweet-an lang, sana sa ministry na lang ginastos yung perang pinangdate at yung time na na-spend, nag-away din naman after ng date) Hahaha!

Well, let me explain it in a different light.

Ministry should be the lifestyle of any boy-girl relationship that aims to glorify God! It should not be a mere compensation.

No way! Ministry should never be a bribe to God so He would bless your relationship. For example, “We say that Jesus is the center of our relationship, that’s why we should at least give a poor kid some food together or somethin’.. Jesus being the center of our relationship would make us last.” No way, sistarr! Don’t do that for the wrong reasons. Don’t do it half-heartedly. Don’t even do ministry just so the people around you will approve of your friendship. No way! The truth will stink eventually.

Ministry should not be an accessory, Christian couples! Ministry should be the main purpose of your relationship. Well, that is, if God is really the super glue that attaches you two together.

Firstly, you should minister to each other. You should encourage each other to grow deeper into faith. You two should be a light to each other, inspiring one another to seek God even more. You should learn how to help each other seek a sweeter relationship with God, more than seeking a sweeterrelationship between you two.

 If you are a blessing to each other, in the richest sense of the word “blessing”, it will extend to the people around you. You two would learn to love the people around you even more, and prevent the unhealthy mentality of having your worlds revolve around each other. It’s like being so overflowing with the unconditional love from God and with love from him, that you can’t help but love all the other people around you! J

A mutual desire to serve God could eventually lead you two to a ministry you’ll do together. In our case,  we go to Arenda together. I have a passion in discipling women while Jopel has a deep desire to be a pastor. Somehow, these two hearts willing to serve are perfectly woven together to make the ministry work.

Having a ministry together constantly reminds me that our friendship is not given by God to just to satisfy our flesh’s desire. God intended friendships like this for something greater than that! Mere satisfaction of emotional and physical and whatever needs is shallow. I cannot imagine any relationship that aims to glorify God that does not have a vision to have a ministry together. Well, at least to encourage each other to devotedly pursue a ministry!

True enough, the greatest moments in our friendship are not the moments when we give each other letters nor having an expensive inner. The most precious moments we have are those times when we experience God in the most personal way.. While we stand beside each other! J

If you are in a relationship, what ministry are you dreaming to do together? How do you support each other in your individual ministries? J

It's a gift from God, so don't let frustrations cloud your sight!

Photo grabbed from Kamyl Manchus. The cutie ring was also from her. <3

Music has played a great part in drawing me closer to God.

I may not be the most excellent pianist, but could you believe it, my very weaknesses in playing the piano are the ones used by God to reveal to me a lot of things.

Tears are streaming down my face right now.

Minutes earlier, it was out of utter frustration. Why? Many questions lured me to fear and to doubt. Man, was I so emotional lately! But then again, it is moments like this that give memorable lessons to me.

Music is from God, and so is my Piano-playing
 Before I even got serious with God, I got piano lessons. My ninong gave me an electric piano as a gift. I do not even know what came to his mind when he gave me that! During that time, I did not realize how expensive that keyboard was. I only thought that it was some toy I could play with.

One time, on a field trip, I bought a bamboo recorder that comes with a paper with a little tutorial. "Close these holes if you want to play a 'G' and so on.." It has famous songs on it, with the melody translated into these letters. As soon as I get home, I tried these melodies on my dusty keyboard, untouched and almost forgotten. My brother, knowing a few stuff from their music classes, put masking tape on every key so I would know which key is C, or whatever. My mom saw how happy I was to play the melody of "Lupang Hinirang". My mom immediately suggested that I take piano lessons the next summer.

The next thing I know, I was taking classical piano lessons. I was very bored! I thought it would be cool, but it was contrary to my dream piano lessons. I always tried to feign sickness just to have an excuse to skip lessons. But my mom nags on me about that all the time! She almost dragged me to the piano, even when I tried to fake sleep, just to have piano lessons.

After 3 years of "forced" classical piano studies, I stopped. I thought I would be busier in high school and I wouldn't manage if I still continue my music lessons.

But it was not out of my life just yet. When I was in second year high school, I started attending Gencon. It was an unexpected time of the year - there came conflicts with the pianists so the worship team needed pianists so badly that I was forced to learn how to play Christian songs. Classical piano is way waaaaaaay different in playing in church. It's an entirely different game.

But I don't regret entering this ministry. I might have thought earlier in the ministry that I was forced being there, but when I think about it, I had a choice! And I chose to play for God just because I thought it was the right thing to do.
I consider our music director, Pastor Jordan, as my mentor in piano-playing. Also one of our ex-pianists, Kuya Gino, taught me some stuff. I am sooo blessed to have them!

True enough, choosing to be involved in this ministry was a good decision. I have encountered so much of God through this ministry.

In being involved in the music ministry, I learned so much about
commitment.
I learned how to set aside my comfort just so I could play the piano for God. I would wake up early in the morning only to practice with the team. Imagine, I would be sacrificing a couple of hours of more sleep just to go to the P&W practice and hear our music director's frank criticisms. :))
At first I did it just because I had to - we were only two pianists back then. But after a while, God transformed my heart and I learned to do it for Him.

My family saw how much devoted I was with what I did. Sometimes, my mom would get angry because I choose to play for our youth service, instead of going out with my family. I held on to Matthew 10:37 back then. As long as God does not tell me to put my family affair first to minister to them, I would play the piano. After years in the ministry, my family finally understood. :) Praise God for moving in their hearts!

I also learned a lot about
humility.
They say that the number one enemy of a church musician is playing for their own glory.
But for me, it was not the case. The music ministry was very humbling for me. Because in it, I saw how undeserving I was. I saw how much improvement I should sweat for. Thanks to our praise and worship team, I always received the harshest words about my piano playing... which in turn changed my attitude towards it for the better! :)
Criticisms are hard to take when you have so much pride in your skill. But when you humble yourself, that's when you become more teachable and more versatile.

Being in the Praise & Worship team, of course, I had a deeper understanding of
worship.
When you have a ministry such as this, it's your gift being offered as worship.
I realized that God is not pleased by how good you are in that gift, He is more interested by what's in your heart. The true worshipper does not stop worshipping when circumstances are less comfortable. The true worshipper worships regardless of where he is, whether it would be on the stage, on the church benches, or even when he's alone. Worship is a lifestyle.

I first took to heart this word because of music,
excellence.
Yes, God's most pleased with what's in your heart. But when your heart seeks to offer what's best, God is also delighted.
I learned to aim for excellence, not to lift up my name, but to glorify God. Not to gain His approval, but to bring back all the praises to Him.
I learned how important giving my best for God is! However, I comprehended how limited I am, the more I seek to give my all. When we're at our wits end, that's the time we remember that it is God that would mold us into excellence. Moreover, it is a worshiping heart that allows God to do so. :)

Now why am I suddenly blogging about this?
It is because I had an inner battle earlier. The enemy, doing his job of stealing from me the joy of encountering God through my piano-playing, confused me.

I am taking piano lessons again. (Yes, after 7 loooong years of unguided piano playing) After 4 sessions, I felt as if I have not improved and I am not getting it. I sobbed at the idea that I could be wasting my time taking these lessons. I almost beat myself every time I practice, because I become frustrated of how much I do not grasp in what my teacher is trying to teach me.

Because of that, I started asking God, is it really Him who placed me here? I doubted the reason why I am pursuing piano today. I questionned whether I was meant to continue pursuing piano or this isn't my gift and I should just stop and start pursuing other stuff that could be my gift.

Then God reminded me how he brought piano into my life. He refreshed my memory.. He was moving, when  my ninong was thinking what to give me. He was there when my mom heard me playing the melody of Lupang Hinirang. His hands were guiding mine when I was taking my piano lessons back then.

Just as "hands on", God is also here with me as I see my limitations in piano playing.
I know that He led me to take these piano lessons, not to make me frustrated but to teach me fresh new lessons. I'd do my part and remember those four things I learned from P&W ministry - commitment, humility, worship and excellence.

What's your gift that you're insecure about? One which you always thought you weren't made for but always appear right in front of your face when God encourages you to be involved?

Taking the great commission to a whole new level!

When you're a Christian and you see someone as passionate in reaching souls for God as Pastor Sam Tamayo, you'll be energized and start to really think about your own ministry. :)
When you see someone like this, you would think.. There's really no space for idleness. There's so much stuff that has to be done! God has so many things He prepared in advance for us to do. Ephesians 2:10
Why slack off in your Christian life? You would miss all the excitement!

Who would have thought motocross would be powerfully by God like this? :)

Rise up, Arenda Church!

It was a very busy day.. And I'm glad that I spent it with my Majesty! :)

Isn't it worth it when you know that all your sweat, all your sacrifices, and all the money you spent are only for the glory of our King? Hehe I'm indeed a happy servant! :">

I love Sundays because they are filled with church-loving and people-bonding :)

We went to Arenda Church of the Nazarene (ACN) in the morning.

We have been going to their church for more than a year already.. I forgot exactly when we started going there. It started when one of my friends wanted to train ACN's worship team. They were teenagers like us. :) We shared to them the stuff we know in playing for the worship team.  We would go there on Sundays to teach them new songs. We did that for months. And now they're good. :D Time came when there were conflicts with the schedule, so we stopped going there to teach them music.. And Jopel and I thought of mentoring them. We had small groups, accountabilities and even doctrine teaching. However, this could be the last Sunday that we could go there.. Our schedule of going there on Sunday afternoons would now clash with the new schedule of TFCN's youth service (Generation Congregation is now at 4pm!) But no, it's not goodbye. God still has many things in store for these young people. We're here praying for them and supporting them in whichever way we can.

It was their First Year Anniversary! They were an independent church for that span of time. It was tough, but through the celebration earlier, we were reminded how faithful He is to His people! Praise God! :">

What would be our response to His faithfulness to the church and to our lives?

Let's Rise Up!

That's their anniversary's theme, along with their theme chapter Ezekiel 37. :)

Pastor Sam Tamayo was their speaker.

He shared stuff about Ezekiel 37:1-10.

1. Nothing is impossible when you have faith! (Ezekiel 37:3)

     Ezekiel saw hopelessness in the dry bones in the valley. However, he knew that there are many things that only God knows, even the possibility of the rebirth of these bones. He did not deny the possibility; Ezekiel may have thought that this could be possible by directing His faith to the Sovereign Lord.

     Likewise, we should put our faith in Jesus. Not in our dreams, not in our goals. Our faith should be that His Will be done! 

2. God Himself will give the grace and blessings we need to nurture our faith.     God does not rate our faith when He's showering His blessings. It's not like school, where you get what you deserve. When God sees the littlest faith in you, He will definitely move in that little one. He does not wait for you to become the greatest person on earth - He is the one that supplies you what you need to be the greatest you could become. :)

     He also gives us blessings little by little. He nurtures our faith little by little. Pastor Sam shared how He imagined the scene in the chapter.. The dry bones assembled, then joints and ligaments appear slowly. Muscle would slowly creep up the bones until it fully covers it. Looking like a zombie, skin slowly makes the figure more human. (Ezekiel 37:7-8) And God paused.. To let Ezekiel appreciate how God will give breath and life to these bodies.

     God blesses us little by little so we would always have something to anticipate! Miracles upon miracles. God Himself will be the one that fills our life with encouragements every time we're down. He also supplies whatever we need to grow deeper in faith. 

3. The Holy Spirit would lead us towards victory.     It is the end result that is most important. And when you have God on your side, you're sure to end up victorious. The realization of this does not depend on how you read your Bible.. It relies on how much you allow God to move in your situation. :)

The Church's response to God's call to rise up. I pray that their response would not be merely raising of hands. May these only be symbols to how they would choose to rise up for God from here on forward.. :) 

Loved this kid <3

Here's Joy. Kat's sister. We also got to talk. I will miss talking to her.. She's very transparent and I know that God has big plans for her. I got a peek of her heart and I am blessed! Her heart would surely bring her to great encounters with God. :)  

Here's Ate Donna.. We had funny kulitan! Hehe and she shared a little secret........ HAHA.

(Okay, sorry for saying something you won't relate at all. Hahaha) 

 I love eating with people - great way to bond. :) It makes you feel like you are family. No wonder why there were many important things in the Bible that happened on dinnertime. :D

Here's Jopel, my ministry buddy. We became close to each other not because of ligawan or texting or whatever. We became close because of our mutual love for God that we express through ministries like what we do here in Arenda. :) I praise God for this man's life. Our sincere friendship has definitely helped me grow in immense ways! :)

 This is Kat. We had a great talk after the service.. I want to get to talk to her more often :( In person.. What could be God's plan why He allowed the schedules to conflict? But she promised to update me on Facebook. I really love this girl. She's the sweetest :">

With the other girls.. Their lovely, aren't they? Nothing makes a woman lovelier than the joy she experiences from God!

If you read this and you feel like God's whispering to your ear to pray for these young people, please do so!

And yeah, by so doing, you're taking part in the great things God has in store for them. Let's wait and see how God would be using these teenagers mightily and powerfully! :)

Who are the people you are praying for? Who are those whom you encourage to be all out for our King?

Love Potion

Have you ever been almost suffocated by the air pollution in the streets, when a woman smelling so good and fresh pass by you and made you feel a little better? You almost followed her steps as your head turned her way, almost instinctively. After a few seconds, you still remember her scent. It gave you a slight relief from the thick pollution..

The next day, you sprayed your favorite perfume as you were reminded of how that woman smelled. You want to give others the kind of relief that woman gave you..

True love works in the same principle as this.

It's like your expensive perfume that stays on your skin or clothes or even in others' noses.

When you wear perfume, everyone smells it. No exception! (well okay, those with colds could be an exception, haha) Everyone who sits beside you, who stands across you, who passes by you. Everyone should able to enjoy the refreshing love you wear and freely give out! 

What kind of love is it that would be most fragrant for the people around us?

Of course, it is the love taught to us by Jesus's example.

Imagine how busy Jesus was when He was on Earth. He had many things to do in his waking hours! Even at  the times when he wanted to be alone to pray, He sometimes got interrupted. One time, He got interrupted by the crowd who followed Him when He wanted to privately mourn for John the Baptist's death, (Matthew 14:13-14) another time was when Jesus got up early to pray and Peter found Him to tell Him that "Everyone is looking for you!" (Mark 1:35-37). These moments were so important! But Jesus did not get irritated at all when He was interrupted. Instead, all He exuded was love.

When the Pharisees threatened His life, many followed Him when He withdrew.. What He did with the crowd? He healed them all. (Matthew 12:14-15)

He was never too busy, never too occupied, to express His love to an individual.

Everything He did when He was here on Earth was very important. But when someone interrupts Him, no matter how incomparably little that guy's reason was compared to Jesus's task such as organizing the universe, saving the world from sin, and the like, He always took the time to listen and give that person His full attention. 

That was how He looked at EVERY individual with soo much love.

No one was less important than the others.. He was very busy but was never too busy to neglect anyone at all.

From the morning 'til night, Jesus encountered all kinds of people. For the whole day, He got to talk to the people close to Him, His apostles, and to people whom He physically interacted for the first time.

But I cannot imagine Him waking up and greeting His disciples with a grunt.. "Don't talk to me unless you already have our breakfast ready!" From the morning 'til dawn, He would've greeted and connected with every person He meets with love and compassion.

Jesus always seemed to find time to connect with people in rich, strong, personal ways.

That's the fragrance of love that would make the world smell a lot better!

How many people do you encounter in one day? As soon as you wake up, you might have your family at the breakfast table, or maybe your dormmates. The moment you go outside of your house, you pass by strangers and mere acquaintances. You get to meet with your friends. Your boss or your teacher sees you. You have an encounter with a jeepney driver, even. In one whole day, what do all the people you bump into smell from you?

Do they smell love?

Do they smell indifference?

Do they smell disgust?

Every person we meet wants a breath of fresh air from the pollution of evil and wickedness in the world.

No exception.

He could be the blind man on the LRT Footbridge. She could be the old woman who has a hard time crossing the street. He could be the Recto kid thief who wants to change his ways and just wants someone who believes he could. She could be the Badjao who experiences all forms of discrimination and seeks to find real sisterly love in the streets. He could be the little kid who cannot find his mom in the mall. She could be your friend who just needs someone to listen to how hurt she was. He could be your dad who just wants to have a better relationship with his family.

Everyone needs to smell the fragrance of God's love.

My challenge to all of us is to live each day saturated with love.

Like how Pastor Rudy Rasmus puts it in His book Touch,

"Love before leaving someone's presence."

You'd never know. This could be the real love potion that creates in someone unconditional love towards all the people around him/her! A simple gesture of love can turn an angry person into the most loving one in the world! :)

When people walk out of your presence, do they feel blessed or hated? 

What are you doing to let people know that real unconditional love still exists?

What "smell" do others remember from you?

Young lady, dream big!

If you try to find the verses in the New Testament that talk about women, you could be as surprised as I was before..

I was puzzled about them the first time I read those New Testament verses about women.
I read them as I went through a chapter in the letters in the New Testament.
Among these verses are 1 Corinthians 14:34-36 and 1 Timothy 2:11-12.
I thought, "Really? I cannot believe what I just read! Is this one really written in the Bible?" I read the verses over and over again just to be sure that I get what it tried to say to me..

It troubled me, really. That was until I learned that when you read the Bible, you should know the context. :)
These verses weren't stepping down at women! If you have questions about what I think about these verse, you could send me a message. ;)

Why did I bring this up?

It's because I see how passive women in church are today. I ask myself, is that because of what we read in the New Testament about women? Or are we just contented to sit and be comfortable at wherever we are at today?

Not that I'm saying that less women are involved in church. In fact, I admire many women who are active in the ministries of the church. They are present in outreach programs, in teaching kids, in preparing for church events, in decorations, in beautifying the church, etc. These are quite lovely!

But how are we, women, supposed to take our faith and our servanthood to the next level?

I had my quiet time earlier and I want to share with you what God has told me.

I read about Deborah and Jael in Judges 4. They were indeed mighty women of God. :) In their stories, their husbands Lappidoth and Heber takes a backseat.

1. Deborah

        She was leading Israel after the judge Ehud. "The Israelites came to her to have their disputes decided." (v.5) (Consider her being a woman leader.. Imagine how many Israelites there were! Plus, they were not exactly the most behave people. Hahaha)

        She was a prophetess; she sent for Barak to tell him God's command of conquering Jabin's army (the army who took captive of Israelites that made them cry to the Lord for help).

        I did not know what went on in Barak's mind, but he said, "If you go with me, I will go; but if you don't go with me, I won't go." I have questions, why would Barak say this in verse 8? If you would be fighting someone, you would want to stick to the fiercest among your troop! You might want to look for Manny Pacquiao. Deborah, being a woman, I assume was not the one with the best skill with the sword. So maybe Barak said this from looking up to Deborah as the army's spiritual leader. (Very important because they depended on God for their victory.. Although, it wasn't so gentleman of him to want to bring a woman to battle!)

        Deborah said in verse 9, "Very well, I will go with you. But because of the way you are going about this (Barak was not supposed to depend on a woman especially on battles like this), the honor will not be yours, for the Lord will hand Sisera over to a woman."

        She encouraged the army and gave them the go signal in verse 14.. And they won! Although.. The army's commander, Sisera, "fled on foot" and tried to hide from the army.. 

2. Jael

        This woman was a part of Moses's family tree. (verse 11) Most likely, she has heard many many things about the God of Jacob.

        Sisera tried to hide in her house. She was welcomed warmly by Jael, she even "put a covering over him." (verse 18) and gave him milk to drink. But when Sisera told her that "If someone comes by and asks you, 'Is anyone here?' say 'No.' ", she plotted to kill him in his sleep. When Barak came and asked her about Sisera, she showed him Sisera's dead body. Now that's fierce.. Hehe.

        Indeed, the Lord handed Sisera over to a woman. He handed him to Jael.

I expressed my appreciation of how women help out inside the church.. Although, if we talk about ministries outside the church, how many women actually spearhead ministries?

If you, who's reading this post, are a woman, have you ever really tried to dream big for how you serve God?

Did you try to discover what your passion is and offered it to Him and let just let Him use it powerfully?

One of our church's youth pastors, Ptr. Sam Tamayo, uses his gift and passion for motocross to share God to a bigger crowd. Witnessing how he acts on his love for God by using his greatest passion to be able to share the good news to more people, I am greatly encouraged and inspired to do great things for my King.
Also, I am inspired by Yeng Constantino and Acel van Ommen when I went to victory's Hello to Heaven concert. There they expressed their passion for kids with the foundation they established to help give kids the Right Start. (That's why they called it Right Start Foundation)

Generation Congregation, the Christian youth group God used to help me grow, is now preparing itself to soar high with God! Ministries would be reborn, as new ministries sprout.

This challenges me to find how I could further maximize myself for my King.

I try to look at our youth and the existing ministries in it. We had ballers for Christ, School of R.O.C.K (for musicians),  BMX (what the ramps at MMF were for), etc. I can't help but ask.. Where are the outreach ministries purposely made to share God to women?

Who would be spearheading ministries as such? Of course, no other than women.
I am very much challenged to seek every corner of my being and my passions, so that I would see what part of me I could contribute in helping women. My prayers about women become more and more passionate only because of what God teaches me through my modesty pledge.

Then it struck me. Maybe that was the reason why God spoke to my heart in July '12 about taking modesty seriously.
He knew that I liked dressing up. I used to visit websites such as lookbook, chictopia, etc. I also used to buy vogue, glamour, and other magazines about fashion in BookSale near our school. My summer days weren't boring because I watched all the episodes of America's Next Top Model and Project Runway.
God did not change that about me. What He did was He showed me how I could use it for His glory.
(I like dressing up. although, I'm not a fan of the expensive brands you'd see in other fashionistas. a Christian fashionista would never spend more money on clothes than on her ministries!)

Today, that is what I see myself doing for God.
I am going to use my passion for clothes, everything God revealed to me about modesty, and use it all to start God-centered relationships with women of different kinds and of different worlds! :)

I know that God is indeed up to something big. He's the center of everything I do - from the way I dress to the blogs I post. I pray that His hands would always be mine and His voice would always be my guide :">
All I gotta do is earnestly submit to my King and consult everything that I would do for my Majesty. After all, that's what a servant should do, right? ;)

What are the big things you are willing to do for God? What are your passions and how do you think could they be used for His glory?

Overwhelming Number!! T_T

In one month, this blog had 1,153 views! I'm overwhelmed! I did not even expect to have more than 10 readers!

I don't know how it reached this number, I really don't! T_T I don't even know who you are who read this blog!! Thank you very much! You're an encouragement, an assurance that the purpose of this blog is fulfilled!

This is absolutely God's doing! Because I cannot do anything that could make this blog reach this number! T_T

To everyone who actually takes time to read the posts and to visit this blog, I thank you.

This blog has surely given me a boost. Every number added on the Page Stats reminds me of why I am even doing this blog.. :) I'm not a blogger by blood (meaning, it's not easy for me to blog..) but I do it anyway because I want to shout to the world how God moves in my life! And I want others to experience it too!

Let's have more fun and God-lovin' this January ^_^

Do you have any suggestion for this blog? Just leave a comment below :)

I dare you to be a MODESTY PLEDGER. :)

So today, I created a group in Facebook for women who want to have a Modesty Pledge.

This is great for the time of the year to create something like this - people are addicted to making New Year Resolutions!

And this pledge is not just a simple new year resolution - it is a commitment you make before God.

What I am trying to do is involve others in my Modesty Challenge I started last July 2012! It would sure be great to have a community of godly ladies who pursue modesty. :) Read about my thoughts on community modesty in the article Modesty with a Helping Hand.

Jopel encouraged me to think of the group's objectives, mission and vision.

Personally, I think it helped because I got a grip of my unorganized ideas about the group and it made me actually dream big for this! Just like what I said in this post. ;)

Group Name:
Modesty Pledgers

Objectives:
1. To create a community for women who want to take modesty seriously for the glory of God.
2. To have a loving group that encourages one another, and the people around them to pursue Modesty. To have a group that discourages condemnation.
3. To make more women realize the role of Modesty in promoting Purity!
4. To instill in every Christian woman a deeper appreciation of womanhood! :)

Mission:

To spread the significance and the beauty of the kind of modesty God approves and to encourage Christian women to sincerely commit to modesty.

Vision:
To have godly advocates of modesty in every corner of the world! :)

If you want to pay the site a visit, or if you want to join and be a Modesty Pledger, here's the link:

http://www.facebook.com/groups/modestypledgers/

Can you pray with me for this group? I know that God urged me to create this group because He has great things in store!  :D

What are you pledging to do this year? What do you think about this group? How do you think could this be used by God? :D

❤❤Faye