Looong Sunday...

had a (very) long sunday. started the morning with a church service, then the usual after-service music practice, a short trip home and back to church again for a dedication service. sharie, ferry, currie and i were caught by surprise sa news na kasama kami sa line-up ng godparents. so i'm now a proud ninang to two inaanaks. haha. feeling ko tuloy ang tanda ko na. :P

i'm beginning to realize that there's a downside to having a few youths at church. i don't want to sound arrogant or something but i just hate it when "they" demand so many things from us. it's like we can't do our own thing. and it sucks.
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we were supposed to practice for a dance routine para sa christmas party but since walang may talent sa amin mag-isip ng steps nauwi nalang sa kwentuhan. i'm really hoping for God to send a choreographer (by the name of timothy james aka "tj") para magkaron naman kami ng progress. haha. :)

our sunday evening won't be complete without attending gencon. it was the last session for their final destination series and pastor sam talked about heaven. heaven nga, tinodo ang aircon at ang stage puro ulap at anghel. haha. pastord jordan sang "i can only imagine" and the song would make you think on how is it really like to be in heaven--to see Jesus face to face. as usual, we left the fellowship blessed and renewed. :)

i won't forget this evening din coz of what sharie and i have talked about...
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at dahil long sunday ang title ng post na 'to, mom, sis and i went to sm to watch the last full show of twilight. the movie was no match to the book but i still love it. robert pattinson playing edward made the movie so worth it. haha. i'm such a sucker for chick flicks. :) it was the last full show but the cinema was still packed with viewers. i think mom liked the movie as well and i think we'll bring her to see new moon next when it comes out. twilight fever mode. haha.

night/morning! :)

Spiritual Gifts

our first d-group for this sem finally started yesterday. yay! i've been tremendously busy with school works that i seldom have the chance to fellowship with the girls. yesterday's session was uber cool. haha. jeri gave us a test to determine our spiritual gifts. we had to answer 112 questions that correspond to points on 16 spiritual gifts. the three highest points and their corresponding classification are your spiritual gifts.

i just couldn't contain my excitement while taking the test. i've been wanting to know for so long what He has given me so that i could make use of it. and the results were astounding. god has confirmed that my gifts were the same ones i have the burden for.

spiritual gifts are given by God but it is up to us (with His help) to discover and develop them.

* if you want to take the test for yourself, just tell me so i could ask jeri for a copy. :)

Breakthroughs

i started with a couple of kids in sunday school but i truly thank God for the newest additions. 8 regulars plus 4 new = 12 uber kulet kids that drive me crazy. haha. i asked god for a little help but he gave me three times more than what i asked for. cheeno, hannah and ichi were just heaven sent. :) i was surprised at how patient they were with the kids. i hope they would continue to help me out coz i know i can't do it all alone.

d-group time was so special. we were supposed to do an application of what sharie shared last week in our group which was about evangelism. but i know we just can't go out there without being equipped. so we studied the tracts (do you know life's most important relationship?) i bought from CCF and sharie and i challenged everyone in the group to do our part in fulfilling the great commission. i was so happy to see the fire in their eyes. i believe that God would bless our desire to advance his kingdom. we'll do our part then leave the rest to him.

this is just the start...

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went to gencon for their 2nd installment on the final destination series. pastor jordan gave a message about hell and how it's not enough that we know we are saved. surrendering our lives to christ is not just a one-time event--it's a lifestyle.

i'm leaving you with one of his quotes:
"it's better to be on fire with God than on fire away from him"

night! :)

junk art at its finest

had our first artist's studio trip for our arts and design class. it was also my first time to ride in mrt and i swear i won't do it again. haha.
the sculptor was our professor's good friend, ral arrogante. known for his witty metal sculptures which can be seen at the world trade center, senate and luneta among other places.
his pieces are priced at around 5 to 10 thousand each. proof that there's really cash in trash. :)

rendezvous

met up with my good friend/discipler at katips for lunch. we've been so busy this past week that we barely had time to talk even though we see each other daily at school. we talked about everthing that's been happening in our ministries--including our progress (?) and struggles; future "career" plans and love life.

burnout.

i feel like my responsibilities are starting to take a toll on my spiritual life. it's like i'm focusing more on His work rather than on Him. Jeri's right, i need to come back to my first love because everything else is just secondary and that any form of burnout is not from Him.

i need His word. i feel like i'm missing a lot whenever i skip (unintentionally) the pastor's preaching to teach the kids in sunday school. i love those kids and i can't bear to let them go but i'm afraid my spiritual defense is limping due to these "absences".

her advice?

delegate. train. refocus.

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i wish i had a 'lil brother. i wanted to have one even more badly when i met this charming 4 year old at my mom's office kanina. his twinky eyes and cute smile is soooo endearing. para kaming may sariling mundo habang naglalaro. he even sang incy wincy spider. haha.

he made the hours i was stuck in that place more bearable--but not without a price. he ate all of my french fries. :P

btw. his name is rafa. :)

kung may lil bro kayo dyan pahiram naman muna. haha. :)

When I Hear You Call

Gary V.'s song...

Would love to hear this song played during my wedding's father--daughter dance. :)
haha. senti mode :)

Updates?

i feel like writing...but i don't know where to start.

hmmm..

so, school started last wednesday and thank god that i was allowed to drop my culinary elective at AHA (American Hospitality Academy) or else i wouldn't have been able to enrol because cash is--short at the moment. i opted for a monthly payment mode but the down was still something like 30k. c'mon! but god is still faithful. :)

What else?

CBEA general assembly was held last sat. so happy everyone in my "fratt" is included in the dean's list. *thank you lord*

we had our first class in my new elective--humanities (the one i replaced AHA with). we were asked to make a collage of some sort. the teacher seems to be very nice and kinda *weird*. haha. but i'm looking forward to learning a lot from her. i'm excited for our "painting" lesson next week. :P

also fellowshipped at GenCon for two consecutive sundays with my other youthmates. definitely a big change from the typical scene in our church. i don't know if i'm ready to share this but something or "Someone" urged me to go to the altar during the call--something i don't normally do. i was telling myself to stay where i was at but i just couldn't resist Him. it's like a big step of faith...i just hope i'll be able to live up to it till the end. Lord, help me.

so that's about it. so tired.

night!

Of Jeepney Drivers and God

i was riding in a jeep a while ago and realized something of 'eternal significance'. i don't know about you but i get kinda ticked off when the driver stops over just to get a single "possible" passenger. i feel like it's a waste of time because he ain't sure if that person will ride or not. but he stops just to make sure he doesn't leave anyone [who wants to ride in his jeep] behind.

now, some may argue that these drivers may be thinking more of the money they will earn from every passenger, but let's try to picture their intent in God's perspective.

i think god wants us to be like jeepney drivers.

i think He wants us to painstakingly stop over at every single soul. it's our duty as christians to let everyone experience the joy of riding in His jeep--the joy of knowing His message and the opportunity to have Him enter their lives. after all, it's the surest and best way to eternal life.

"Pay close attention to your life and your teaching. Persevere in these things, because if you do so, you will save both yourself and those who listen to you."
1 Timothy 4:16

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i was a bit discouraged about what happened a while ago simply because the people whom i thought would understand suddenly left me. siguro nga the path i'm about to take will be lonely. but i'm sure He'll never leave when everybody else does..

nakakaasar lang tlga. walang maasahan..

PJ

omg.

i'm totally freaking out right now!!!

haha.

he posted a comment on my blog in multiply.

it said: "awww-stig!"

weeeeeee! :)
haha. i may sound like a total weirdo...but it really means a lot!!! :)