Prayer of My Heart

Before the ITR (Income Tax Return) season kicked in, I was already struggling with spiritual dryness.  I was grateful with God for all the blessings He had been pouring out for us, but I feel less and less of the joy I used to have.  My early morning quiet time became a routine and obligation rather than something I look forward to.  And when March came in, busyness has engulfed all of my energy and time.  My quiet time with the Lord became less frequent to almost none.  And all those time, I felt guilty.  But still, the Lord blessed me and even provided for me to be able to finally make some home repair and improvement.  How I feel so undeserving of His love and faithfulness!

But, I long for the joy His salvation gives.  I long for the peace and quietness of trusting Him to lead my life.  I am ashamed to admit that the world has once again caught up on me and I went along. The world disguised as deadlines to beat, work that needs to be prioritized, things to buy, projects to plan, etc. etc.

I hold on to God's promise of mercy that is new every morning.  And today, I pray for God's mercy and forgiveness.  I pray for God's grace and peace.  I pray -

Psalm 51: 7-12

 Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean;
    wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.
 Let me hear joy and gladness;
    let the bones you have crushed rejoice.
 Hide your face from my sins
    and blot out all my iniquity.
 Create in me a pure heart, O God,
    and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
 Do not cast me from your presence
    or take your Holy Spirit from me.
 Restore to me the joy of your salvation
    and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.


I ask that you all please pray for me.  May God give me the strength and enable me to be able to grow deeper in relationship with Him.

Photo Update

Festival Mall River Park 

MYMP Album Signing

MOA with Audrey

Buffet 101 with college friends Aisha and Mike

At Robinson's Magnolia

Happy Lemon = Happy Kids

Edge of the Moment

I only saw the movie  Edge of Tomorrow (Tom Cruise) recently (the DVD was already at 50% off the original price, that's why!).  It was not extra ordinary but it was entertaining.  The world was at war with aliens who seems to know every attack humans make before it happens.  While Major Cage (Tom Cruise) was a non-combat trained officer who was assigned to a sort of PR and Marketing of the military, he was suddenly thrust into the front lines.  On his first day of combat he died as expected.  But he killed an Alpha before that happened and it has given him power to reset time and repeat that day whenever he dies.  That power has given him the opportunity to improve and train as a good soldier and eventually found the solution into victory over the enemy.

And this morning, as I spend time with God pour out my struggle and heart to him, the movie came into my mind and how similar it is to God's grace, love and mercy!  If Major Cage was given each time he dies a new day to correct the mistake he commits,  God is giving me moment by moment to repent if I made mistake and His grace and mercy is new each moment.  And each new moment He gives me, each time He forgives me of my sins and remind me of His love, it gives me a new opportunity to train, improve and transform in to the person that He wants me to be, through His power and might. Each moment is a new moment to correct what I have done wrong before.  And if I still die in the process, I am confident that I am given a new one each time because God's love, mercy and grace is abounding.  

If Major Cage had lived each day at the edge of tomorrow to become a great soldier from a poor one, I will live every edge of the moment by God's power, love, grace and mercy to be continually transformed to a person He wants me to be, until the day of victory. 

Psalm 103:8

The Lord is compassionate and gracious,

slow to anger, abounding in love.

Merry Christmas To All

Christmas Day

We did not have plans, but we ended up going home at around 8pm already (we left the house at 9am!).

We saw Praybeyt Benjamin- we were laughing the whole time.

Ate Jenalyn

Miguel and Maxene at Dave's Fun House

Lunch at Swiss Deli with Tita Gheng.  Ok, I love this restaurant! Not only that they have good food but it is value for money as well!  They have huge servings!  We will definitely come back!

Spicy Pork Ribs, Chocolate Fundue

 Then at Star City- it was full of people but the kids enjoyed nonetheless.

It was randon, unplanned, but it was so much fun!

Merry Christmas!

Christmas Dinner

Thank you Lord for the provision.  And thank you most of all for the reason why we celebrate Christmas-  the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus.  

Thank you Jesus for the gift of life and salvation.  Thank you for the righteousness we don't deserve and yet you have freely given because You love us.  Thank you for the grace and mercy and the unending compassion.

We love you Lord and we pray each day for your forgiveness and guidance.  

Thank you for the new life.

Christmas Chaos - Gifts

One of the many reason I love the holiday season is because my main love language is... GIFT!  Well, not necessarily because I'd be receiving, but because I have the excuse to shop and to give, because you tend to speak your love language to others.  Even when we went through hard times financially over the last two years, I made it a point to have something to give to family and friends by shopping  months ahead, one at a time, until I have everyone covered.  That is how important for me to have something to give during Christmas.    

But this year, I became so busy with my bookkeeping clients that I did not found the time to plan ahead. By this time, everything should have been wrapped and placed in the tree but I found myself needing help to wrap all the presents.  But thank you Eco Bags! I saved time! :-D

These gifts still need wrapping, ran out of bags!!

I've made a mental note to go back to shopping and wrapping gifts early for the next Christmas.  But thank you Lord for providing me the means to be able to give gifts again this season.


:-D

Her First Bike

We are blessed with generous relatives who shower our children with gifts that we can't always afford.  Last Sunday, Tita Lola Gheng treated us for lunch and shopped for Maxene and Miguel.  And the little girl was granted a wish:  her first bike.  :-)

Loving it

Kuya tired from shopping

OLPMC Foundation Day

If there's one thing I really love about me being a WAHM (Work at Home Mom) is being able to attend to all my children's school activities without having to fill up a leave form and keeping my fingers crossed that my boss will sign the form.

A week ago, Maxene had their Goodies Day wherein they sold cereals, tacos and the like.  It was fun to see those cute nursery kids prepare a treat for you.  While Miguel on the other hand just enjoyed the game booths, and the freedom to spend the 200 pesos we gave him to anything he wants in the school bazaar.  

Here are some pictures-  

The little chef

Aren't they cute?

We caught him counting his money

With classmates

Miguel buying a bowl of cereal from Maxene

Daddy was her first customer

All smile!

Remember The Day

When everything is taken from you, when your false security is snatch out of your hands, when you got nothing to hold on to in this world, you fall down on your knees and turn to God.  

3 years ago, I have learned what it's like not to be able to control things that were happening around me.  I never knew then that God was already working the path in my life that only leads to Him.  Through the process, I was beaten down, but stubborn as I was, I fought control over my life and my direction. But the more I struggled, the more I lost control and along the way became depressed.  I was proud and has always believed that no one can dictate your destiny but yourself.  But God showed me the hard way that it is Him who is in control.  and more importantly, He taught me that it is only in Him I can find the real purpose, the real joy, the real peace and security in life.

It took a lot of pushing and nudging from God for me to be able to walk through the path that leads to Him.  And when I got there, when He humbled me to my knees, my life changed a full turn.  I was no longer my old self, but God gave me a new one.  Full of hope and joy, full of peace and love- because of His grace, mercy and love for me.  

And today, I want to remember.  I want to remind myself that the new me should live according to God's will and purpose.  I want to remind myself that it is only in God's presence where I find the true riches and wealth.  Because it is true what they say that when God starts blessing you financially, you tend to forget where your true security, peace and joy resides.  The things of this world has an effective way of luring you out of God's presence.  

God has blessed me amazingly with a good work and He has done the same with Vergil. I can only smile when I remember how we tirelessly struggle before for this, but when we surrendered to God and let Him take control, He as if handed this to us in a silver platter, in His good time.

God enabled me to work at home and earn a good income that is more than what I can be earning in the corporate world.  But lately, it has been taking me away from what my life's purpose should be. And I pray to God that He help me go back to the right direction.  I am reminded of Pastor Dennis' message two Sundays ago about Genesis chapter 34-35, when Jacob disobeyed God when He went to Shechem instead of Bethel where God instructed Him to go.  Jacob suffered the consequence of His disobedience, but God in His love, grace and mercy, directed Jacob once again to the direction He wants him to take and protected him along the way. I can relate to Jacob, because there are times when I disobey God's instructions; but his story should be a lesson for me. It took 10 years, worry, grief, fear and heartache for Jacob before He finally took God's instruction to heart.  I don't want it to be the same for me.

It is my prayer that God forgive me for going astray and that He opens my heart to see where should I be heading.  

Today, and everyday,  I will remember the day God has taken me into His kingdom and adopted me to be His child.  Today and everyday, I will remember what Jesus did to save me and to make me worthy to stand in God's presence.   Today and everyday, I will remind myself that it is not the things of this world that gives me peace, joy and love and eternal life.  It is only Jesus.  And it is but right to live my life for Him, for His glory and for His will and purpose alone.  

Psalm 37:23

The Lord directs the steps of the godly

He delights in every detail of their lives.

Though they stumble, the will never fail,

for the Lord holds them by the hand.

Bellevue Hotel Staycation: Maxene's 4th Birthday

If there's one thing all of us in our family have in common, it's the love in staying in hotels where we just bond, enjoy the room, food and facilities.  It is a good time for us to relax, spend time eating, laughing and sleeping.  Personally, I always look forward to a good night's sleep in their comfortable beds, and of course the buffet breakfast.

For Maxene's pre-birthday clelebration, I decided we book at Bellevue Hotel's Tower Wing.  We initially booked for a regular de luxe room then decided to upgrade into one of  the de luxe rooms in their signature floors for some added perks.

We had a pleasant stay- the staff were all accommodating and friendly. The rooms were more than what I expected - clean, comfortable beds, fresh bed linens and pillow.  There was a bath tub, a separate shower and all other bathroom essentials.  I forgot to mention to the staff though that there's always a foul odor in the shower area whenever you use the shower. Room and other essentials are also present like iron and iron board, safe, coffee and tea making facility etc.

Check out the pictures-

Some of our pictures-