Great Wealth

1 Timothy 6:6-8
Yet true godliness with contentment is itself great wealth. After all, we brought nothing with us when we came into the world, and we can’t take anything with us when we leave it. So if we have enough food and clothing, let us be content.

Once again, God reminded me to probe deeper in my heart.  And reminded me that the true great wealth does not lie in what I have or I can have, but in being contented and being grateful. He reminded me that my greatest wealth is the ETERNAL LIFE that He,with so much grace and love, had given us through the blood of our Lord Jesus Christ.

I am guilty of not putting into heart the warning the apostle Paul gave in the verses that followed that of above-

1 Timothy 6:6-8

But people who long to be rich fall into temptation and are trapped by many foolish and harmful desires that plunge them into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. And some people, craving money, have wandered from the true faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows.

I am grateful that before I once again plunged in to the wrong direction, God so lovingly reminded me today of getting on the right track.  Of pursuing the path of His righteousness and will.  I pray that the Holy Spirit will strengthen me against the temptations of the world and the temporary happiness it offers.  I pray that God will protect my heart from pride and from wanting to please man instead of Him.

Have a blessed day everyone!

The Best Thing That Ever Happened In My Life

3 years ago, if someone had asked me what is the best thing that ever happened in my life, I am pretty sure I'd get into a thinking mode and sort the happy moments in my life and decide which of them is the best thing.

But if you ask me now, I will answer straight away:  the day I accepted Jesus Christ to become my personal Lord and Savior.

It's been almost two years since that day, but I will never ever forget the day when God enabled me to go down on my knees and confess how sinful I am and how I needed Jesus to save me.  That time, I experienced the peace and calmness I have never experienced even in what I thought was the happiest day of my life.  It was peace beyond anything.  Amidst the storm and waves of life, I had never felt more secure and at peace. 

And I never imagined before, that I would become so grateful today that he allowed me to go through so much two years ago.  Now I know how much He loves me, because what He allowed to happen, has made me and Vergil go back to Him.  It has made us seek Him and taught us to let go and surrender control of our life to Him.

He opened my eyes to the reality that life on earth is not what should we live for, but we should live on the life that is after- ETERNITY.  Have you ever wondered where will you go after your life here?  Honestly, I had the thought before the time I met Jesus in my life, and I was worried sick because I was not sure I'd be going to heaven.  But today, I am assured that I will be with God.

Today, my heart never fails to swell with so much gratitude to God for enabling me to seek Him out.  I am very grateful that Jesus died on the cross for me... for all of us.  His gift of salvation is being offered to all.  Just like any gift, we just need to accept that gift.

Wouldn't you want to accept the greatest gift of all?

The video below (by Peter Tan-chi Jr.)  is a good reminder of how lost I was once,  but God loves me very much, that he sent His only son to save me. 

Flunked the Work Test

I've been busy the past days because of the 3 new clients I got.  There's still a lot to go through until everything settles down into a merely routine.  And because of it, I've been under a lot of stress lately, been having less hours of sleep and I become irritable to Vergil and the kids.  And God convicted me, it should not be that way.

God has given me those clients not to do the same mistake I did before- putting work above everything.  The control freak (black dog) in me took the opportunity to cloud once more my knowledge of what God wants me to do.  But I am glad that He made me realize early on what I should be doing- to trust Him to help me with my work.  To be conscious of my priorities-  God, family and others, work and ministry.

Well, I am not proud to say I flunked the test of trusting the Lord for my work.  I had so many deadlines and so little time to do it.  I panicked, plunged myself into work, rearranged my priorities (work on top!) and I ended up irritable, stressed (emphasis on two big, ugly pimple on my chin!), tired and not happy at all!  What I should have done was to keep my priorities in check, and then prayed to God to take control of my deadlines and work.  I have our powerful God to help me but I relied on my own strength once again!  How foolish I am!!

Lesson learned-

1.  Never compromise your priorities (right priorities, I mean).
2.  When you think it is impossible to do something, trust in God.  He is the God of the impossible after all.
3.  Pray, never ceased to pray.
4.  Do not rely on your own strength.

Psalm 28:7
The Lord is my strength and my shield;
    my heart trusts in him, and he helps me.
My heart leaps for joy,
    and with my song I praise him.

Have a blessed day everyone!

God's Love And Mercy

I am not sure, but I think I mentioned before how I gave up a good offer to return working full time over working at home - bookkeeping on retainer's.  I only had one client at that time so imagine the difference of the amount of income between the two.  But I chose to obey God when He told me to concentrate becoming a wife and a mother He wants me to be.  That the same time, we were struggling financially and the offer could have helped us.  But we trusted God and His plans for us.  I knew He will provide for us and will never leave us through the trying times.

It's been more than a year and God has been faithful to His promises.  He gave us so much undeserved love and mercy that I never thought I'd experienced.  He provided for us while he taught us to lean on Him for everything.  He's been faithful the whole time although I was not.  Most of the time, I stumble and hurt Him.  But He forgives me over and over that I feel sick knowing how unworthy I am of it.

It's been over a year, and although I was not as faithful as He is to me, He showered me with blessings. Today, I am working at home, I am my own boss and He gave me income more than what was offered to me before.  God is so good and I am so grateful that he encouraged me to wait and be patient.  His words guided me all the way to what I have now.

Today, as I reflect, I asked for God's forgiveness for all the time I follow the ways of the world and not listen to the Holy Spirit.  I am still a work in progress, but I have learned and realized that God loves me so much that He is always there to welcome me back when I go astray.  I am grateful of everything- from the trials that developed me and brought me to seek Him and to the blessings that He gave me. Indeed, God is good and faithful. He is loving and merciful never wanting us to perish.

Jeremiah 29:11
For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

Batch Meeting

Had to go home to meet them.  Too bad it was a short trip

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Know the Shepherd... Intimately

I've been studying the book of Zechariah during my quiet time these days through John MacArthur's Book Bible Studies available in his website Grace To You.   It has been a tremendous help for me to better understand our God in the Old Testament.  It has given me a lot of insight about our God.

And yesterday, while studying the book through the help of John MacArthur's study on the book, he shared a story which is so profound that I just need also to share with everyone-

I always think about the story of the actor who went to the sort of a drawing room function. And there was a lady there, a fancy place, you know, ladies had their glasses on a stick, you know, one of those old fancy deals. So this one lady who was the hostess came to him and said, "Sir, we would like for you to recite for us." So the actor was in his glory, wanted to recite. And wanting to get the benefit of all that he could from his audience and having a rather unlimited repertoire, he said to his audience, "What would you like me to recite?" And there was an old preacher there, probably crashed the party, and he said, "I'd like to hear the twenty-third Psalm." And the actor said, "All right, I'll...I don't prefer to do that, but I'll do it on one condition," hoping that the gentleman would back down on his request, he said, "I'll do it if you'll do it after me."
The old pastor figuring twice is better than once said, "Fine." So the actor began and his intonation was flawless and his diction was beautiful. Masterfully he went through with great intensity the twenty-third Psalm. When he was done, there was applause. And the old preacher, he got up there and he had kind of a ministerial twang and his diction wasn't that hot, his interpretation wasn't so great. He got all done and there wasn't a sound. And there wasn't a dry eye in the place. And the actor was overcome with the silence, stood up and he said, "I think I know the difference. I know the Psalm, but he knows the Shepherd." That's the difference. There are lots of people who know the Psalm, sadly there aren't so many who know the Shepherd. 

And it hit me-  many claim that they know Jesus.  But the difference between those who are like the Actor and those who are like the Pastor- is the HEART.  Knowing from the HEAD is different from knowing from the HEART,  and knowing from the heart comes from knowing someone intimately.  Just like in a relationship, you cannot love someone you don't know.

We become intimate with others by spending more time with them.  We get to know everything about them- what they love, what they hate, what pleases them etc.  And when we fall in love with the person, we want to please them, we don't want to hurt them.

Same is through with our God.  We can only love him wholeheartedly if we spend time with Him and know Him intimately.  And we can say we truly love Him when we commit to total obedience of His will. Although there are times when we stumble, He is forgiving and merciful.  Although there are times when following His will seems impossible with our own strength, the Holy Spirit's power will strengthen us and make it possible for us.

Spend time with Him and get to know Him intimately by making time to study His word.  There you will understand how great, loving, merciful our God is. There you will get to know, not only the Psalm, but the more of the SHEPHERD.

:-)

SM Southmall Bowling Center

I don't know how to play bowling and so I was not interested to check the place out.  But Miguel insisted we visit the area.  He went ahead with his dad while we stopped by the department store first for some stuff.  They both decided they to play playstation while waiting for us.

I was surprised when I got there though.  The place is huge and there were other activities aside from bowling and play station.

Bowling Area

Game Zone

Billiards

Massage Chairs

Dance Revo

Bowling Area 

Maxene in one of the massage chairs

I tried the massage chairs for PHP20 (6 minutes).  I highly recommend it for those who just need a quick relaxation.  I wished though I have put in PHP50 for 15min.  :-)  Will try uli next time. 

They also have a snack bar, not sure about the offers and prices.  

Well, it's a good place for barkada's to hang out and for families to bond.  

Photo Dump

I've been busy still, so I cannot find time to share my thoughts and heart lately.  I think I should MAKE time instead of finding one.

But for the meantime, will dump photos with short kwentos in here:

Our latest addiction- Soy Yummy.

The Choice Shorts

Kwento:  We passed by the Kid's Clothes section at SM Soutmall.  She saw the shorts (khaki shorts she's wearing above), grabbed it and insisted on buying it for her.  Imagine a 2 year old throwing tantrums at the store when I refused to buy it.  She charmed her Dad though.  It was his birthday that day and he ended up buying a gift for her daughter.  :-) 

At Wilcon Alabang

McSpicy- thumbs up!

Our little boy is Grade 1 already! How time flies!

Rare moments!

We both love Cha Times Choco-Malt Mousse

And same with Maxene- she drinks it like she drinks her milk- NONSTOP

Weekend Ihaw-ihaw

They love Milk Tea

Miggy's first day in AWANA 

MOA Baywalk

We decided to take the kid's to Mall of Asia's (MOA) Baywalk for our Satuday morning exercise.  We planned to eat after our walk but they were already hungry we decided to stopped by Jollibee for breakfast.

Daddy's Birthday Celebration

We celebrated Vergil's birthday at Pancake House Southmall.  It was a fun dinner and we feel really blessed!

To another year luv!  We love you so much!

And oh, I just got to add-  on his birthday, Maxene got him to buy her a gift! Haha!  Baliktad!  She saw a shorts, she wanted it, didn't want to leave the store until we buy it for her and so the Dad (birthday celebrant), bought it so we can already leave.

Happy Maxene

 And here's the shorts she had her Dad buy for her.  Me taste naman... :-)

Make Time For Special Memories

Our children our growing oh so fast and we can't help it!  I still remember when Miggy was still in playschool and Maxene was just in her crib.  But now, my eldest son is already in Grade 1 and my daughter will be entering nursery by next school year! How time really flies!

Many parents I know who have grown-up children always tell me to make the most out of our kids childhood because there will come a time when they don't want to spend time mostly with us anymore.  They will already have their friends and they will have their own activities.  How glad I am that God has given me the opportunity to become a Work At Home Mom (WAHM).  You see, it came a point early last year that I already wanted to go back to my corporate life.  I was offered a good job and salary, but God told me to do otherwise.  And I trusted Him.  And you know what? He never failed to provide... and as I waited for His plan for us, He definitely gave us a better deal!  I am a living testimony of the truth that when God don't answer you prayer or  tells you to do otherwise even if we think that we already have a better plan, it means that He has so much better in store for you! If I had accepted the offer to work full time again, I surely will spend more time in the office than with my husband and kids.  And I won't have the opportunity to make the most out of our children's childhood days.

I thank God also for my husband- that He has given him a job that gives him enough time to be with us.  Enough time to lead the family, to have fun, to create beautiful memories.  We want the kids to remember their childhood days as Mom and Dad in a picture of fun, beautiful, meaningful memories spent together.  We want their minds to be filled up with childhood days spent mostly with Mom and Dad.  Memories that when they grow old and get tired from their own activities, they will miss those times and they will want to spend more time with Mom and Dad.

Today, we don't find time to spend with them, we MAKE time.  Every opportunity that we can be together, we take it - grocery time, exercise, simple work errands, ALL WEEKENDS, mealtime, bath time, brush time, movie time etc.

And so I have to document every simple, special memories with them-

Haircut is family time

Here's Maxene with Ser Chief while Kuya is having his hair cut

Milk tea time- after dinner dessert

Playing around the house

Movie time with Dad

Weekend lunch

Weekend breakfast delivery

Game time

Church time

Timezone Time

Lollipop time (once a month only!) while waiting for Dad at the doing a work related purchase 

Mcdo time (favorite after worship meal time ni Kuya)

Mcdo time with Dad

Ride time

One of the many weekends

Wilcon visit

mcdo uli

Breakfast at Mcdo

Milk tea