Finally, i'm back with this old routine again after a long vacation in Cavite (our home). Haaayyy, i'm gonna miss the quiet atmosphere and life changing independence. Anyway, i've gone through a lot of happenings and i really loved my vacation. I got good grades too and i know that God gave me the wisdom to excel in my subjects! As time goes by, i find myself happier than i ever was. Even if life is playing partial struggle in me. God is revealing so much of Him and so much of me. Lately, i've been busy in church and fellowship, doing small groups and discipleship. I love how God turned me, to be a better person.

            Last time, we watched one of Barbie's gigs in pier one, metrowalk. The place is far more than what could really interest me. Even if i don't appreciate the crowd, still, i'm not there for the crowd, but to watch and support Barbie. She really made a great impact on the music scene, and her songs really strucked the hearts of those people in a crowdy place like that. At first, many are having a good time and enjoyed listening to her songs 'Torpe' and 'Just a smile'. Some would just shout 'i love you Barbie', and others just talk out loud. But when she sang her new single, 'God is Love', the crowd appeased quietly. Some maybe wondering why, or some may have been hiding for years. And as they say goodnight and finally sang their last song titled 'Goodnight', as the song approach the end of it, Barbie sang 'Jesus loves me, yes i know..for the Bible tells me so..', while doing the instrumental. And it really strucked me, that in a place like that, you really got to have the guts! And it takes guts to proclaim Jesus' love for you. And it really amazed me and somehow clarified the obscurity and the boldness that i have to take.

            Then, a while ago in our church, Teri Sambajon of U-turn was sharing her testimony. And i'm really amazed of what she has become and that she's making a great imapct on the music scene too. I know that the break is there. And when they began to sang, it really touched me. One of their band members (i think his name is Richard), wrote a song about what he has read from the book of Job. The title was 'Take Me Home'. Richard began to sing and at first i just thought that it was another typical song. But as the song catches up with my mind and my Spirit, i cried. I felt the deep passion of God and His greater love for us. Their song was about the comfort that God can give whenever we are burdened and weary of the things happening in our lives. That when the world doesn't seem right, God is there..all you have to do is let go of it and leave it up to Him. It pictures how much God wants to build us and how much He wants to spend time with us. All we have to do is leave our car keys, take Him by the hand and be ready to take a flight with Him. Prepare yourself as He walk straight to you to pick you up at eight o'clock. Every time spent will be with Him fishing through the stars together with mars and venus. Then walk with Him through the milky way as you get closer and closer. That's how God loves us..so much. He doesn't ask for anything but your time and devotion. And whatever wound there is, no matter how deep, no matter how severe and serious it is, God can take that away..He can take the pain away and replace it with pure joy and love.

            I learned so much from it. The guts i've got to have. The comfort that only God can give. And the love that only God can fulfill. And that's how God heals me, teaches me and building me. I just have to fully surrender and submit everything in every area of my life. Thank you Lord for not losing sight of me. You are love..God is love. And i know that He'll be the one to take me home, away from hurt and pain..away from so much struggles and confusions. For He said that, 'Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me..for My yoke is easy and My burden is light.'

Sometimes we wonder, "What did I do to deserve this", or "Why did God have to do this to me". Here is a wonderful explanation!

            A daughter is telling her Mother how everything is going wrong, she's failing algebra, her boyfriend broke up with her and her bestfriend is moving away. Meanwhile, her Mother is baking a cake and asks her daughter if she would like a snack, and the daughter says, "Absolutely Mom, I love your cake."

"Here, have some cooking oil," her Mother offers.

"Yuck" says her daughter.

"How about a couple raw eggs?"

"Gross, Mom!"

"Would you like some flour then? Or maybe baking soda?"

"Mom, those are all yucky!"

            To which the mother replies: "Yes, all those things seem bad all by themselves. But when they are put together in the right way, they make a wonderfully delicious cake!

            God works the same way. Many times we wonder why He would let us go through such bad and difficult times. But God knows that when He puts these things all in His order, they always work for good! We just have to trust Him and, eventually, they will all make something wonderful! God is crazy about you. He sends you flowers every spring and a sunrise every morning. Whenever you want to talk, He'll listen. He can live anywhere in the universe, and He chose your heart.

            A woman was asked by a coworker, "What is it like to be a Christian?" The coworker replied, "It is like being a pumpkin." God picks you from the patch, brings you in, and washes all the dirt off of you. Then He cuts off the top and scoops out all the yucky stuff. He removes the seeds of doubt, hate, and greed. Then He carves you a new smiling face and puts His light inside of you to shine for all the world to see."

Ang cellphone laging pinapalitan ng case
Ang Bible, inaalikabukan na, di pa mapalitan.

Ang cellphone laging hawak at ipinapakita
Ang Bible laging nakatago at ayaw ipakita.

Ang cellphone pang talk at pang text
Ang Kristiano pag may katok, nakakalimutan Ang Text (Word of God)

Ang cellphone kapag low-batt nire-recharge
Sabi ng Bible: "They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their
strength."
At no extra charge pa!

Ang cellphone may caller ID pang-screen ng calls
Sabi ng Bible: "Call unto me and I will answer you"
No need to screen calls!

Ang cellphone may manual na binabasa para matutong gamitin
Ang Kristiano may Bible pero hindi binabasa kaya hindi matuto-tuto

Ang cellphone pwedeng pre-paid, plan 0 at kung anu-ano pa
Ang Bible pre-paid na eternal use pa

Ang cellphone may games pang relax
Sabi ng Bible: "Come unto me and I will give you rest"
O di ba mas nakaka-relax!

Ang cellphone may accessories, battery pack, charger, case, etc
Ang Bible my accessories din; Shield of faith, breastplate of
righteousness,
Sword of spirit, helmet of salvation, feet shod with the preparation
of peace and belt of truth...
Mas COOL at OK ang features di ba?

It's nice to have a cellphone (minsan necessity pa nga eh.)
But don't you think its more necessary and reassuring that we have
the Word of God in us to have a Bible in our hearts and in our Home
to ponder on and meditate and to read upon?

IKAW MAY CELLPHONE KA BA? MAY BIBLE? LIFE IS AN ECHO.
What you send out, you get back.
What you give, you receive.
WHEN YOU BRING OUT THE BEST IN OTHERS, YOU BRING OUT THE BEST IN
YOURSELF.

            This picture was taken from the market market gig last Sunday, July 23. Acel Bisa, formerly of Moonstar88, is back in the music scene with her new band, Acel's Day Off. Even Barbie Almalbis, formerly of Barbie's Cradle, is back and even joined them on their prayer meeting before playing. Astig! Praying before playing! According to my friends who have witnessed their gig, it's a wrap! Sadly, i didn't make it. But soon, i will. Welcome back Acel and Barbie! Welcome, Acel's Day Off!

            God heals even the deepest wounds. I've been struggling with emptiness and anxieties this past few weeks, but He showed me how those insecurities fades with time. He never left, He never got silent, He never got cold. He is faithful to His promises. He has given me my hearts desires even before i ask. I realized that i was relying on my own strength that time, in those moments. But i can't go on with it. And now i recognized God in a way that He wants to be recognized. He wants me to want Him. He wants me to put my expectations on Him and not on other people or things. I have made a way for the barrier that will hinder Him on working in my life. But He revealed that very truth to me. I should draw close to Him so that He can draw close to me. He taught me how to let go. Now i don't feel alone even if i don't have companies because i know He's there, just still. And everything gets better and better everyday. He has made me a better person. Now, i'm discipling a classmate. I am a leader. He made me to be. Now i understand more and more, getting deep with my relationship with Him.

            A while ago i joined Mia's cell. She's going to handle a cell in God's time, i know. Roca and Kitchie is in Canada for gig, so Mia's the one holding one of their cells. I was so happy that Mia have shared it and explained it very well. But to my surprise, i wasn't planning to talk but just listen, but i did talk! And it's not really what i do in a cell, i just listen and talk when asked about something to share. I know that God used me to help Mia lead the cell, and somehow to be in the training ground =) I know, in His time, i will lead a cell and i know that He's preparing me for that. I know He's preparing my heart. Oh my heart, be strong and take courage!

            I've learned that things change, people change.. and it doesn't mean you forget the past or try to cover it up. It simply means that you moved on and treasured the memories. Letting go doesn't mean giving up, it means accepting the fact that some things weren't meant to be..

            Simple and easy.. what makes it light?

            Letting go.

            I just remembered this song and it really is something that has the deepest meaning for me, regarding me and somehow, the others. I burned it on a cd and listen to it almost everytime. The chorus makes me cry everytime i listen to it, i find it so true..

            "They don't know that i come running home when i fall down.. They don't know who picks me up when no one is around.. I dropped my sword and cried for just a while.. 'Cause deep inside this armor.. the warrior is a child.."

            Just like me. I am a child who looks so strong, but they don't know. I come running home.. to God, whenever i fall down. He picks me up.. when there's no one around. I cry out to Him when i can't take the pain anymore.. but i know that He won't give me something that i could not bear. And now, i'm in the process of teaching myself to be alone. I'm teaching myself to be independent. And that's what i saw from Iris. I know now why she is so strong inside and out. And i've learned so much from her. Even if i feel invisible.. to her, i am not. She sees me. And this is me. I've encouraged a lot of people around and it's like winning battles, but people don't know the enemies who lays me at His feet. And like a warrior, still, i am a child.

            I just watched Batman Begins recently and it was really a great movie. The training that Bruce Wayne had was really hard and so is the fate that he's facing. His parents were killed and he finds it hard to accept it. When he started being Batman, it was his birthday and the party will start by evening. After that, the antagonists came so he had to push those people out. But he then got unconscious by Al Ghul, his main enemy, but Alfred came to the rescue. When he got conscious, he asked Alfred, 'what have i done? i have destroyed what my parents have built'. And Alfred replied with a question, why do we fall?'..and he aswered, 'so we can learn to pick ourselves up'.

            And it's the same in our lives. God allows every disappointments, every heartaches, every pain, and every failure to mold us to be a better person. He allows those things to happen, so we could learn to stand up on our own, to be independent and be strong. God wants to prepare our hearts. He doens't want us to live eternally in fear and hatred.
      
            And it's the very same thing that God has done in my life. It's the very question that God revealed to me.. 'why do we fall?, so we can learn to pick ourselves up'.