On the Novas January 2010 trip, I expect only : Jesus
Jesus.. to be the arms in me as I carry an orphan, a little boy and a little girl
to be the gentleness in me - in speech and in action
to be the [visible] Love that pours out and overflows
to be the Hope that does not disappoint
to be in-control when plans AND change-of-plans happen
to be my strength when there's no strength left in me anymore
I expect to be His hand that reaches out to those who are lost.
I expect to be His feet as I walk with people rejected by the society.
I expect to jump into the unknown and explore His beauty.
I expect to see His faithfulness, His mercy and His grace more beautiful than yesterday.
I expect to witness the power of God through the gospel that saves souls.
I expect to be saturated with prayer, devotion and fellowship.
I expect to build lasting relationships and a God-centered family.
I expect to hold on, preach on and be faithful to The One and ONLY Truth.
I expect to be taught to have rest [in Him],
to rejoice
and to trust, and trust
and trust some more.
These I can't do without You and Your wisdom, Oh Lord. Purify, test and search me, Dear God. "See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting"[Psalm 139:24]
Our fundraising event was cancelled due to Typhoon Ondoy that hit Manila today, Sept 26, 2009. Makati is flooded and most of our kids are stranded in their homes due to the heavy rain. Today, God humbled me and my team [Youth Ministry] by reminding us that He is The One in control, no matter how great our plans might seem.
Jesus may not have calmed the storm today, but He did calm the storm within me.He silenced my fears, disappointments and the why's, the how's and the what if's. I'm at peace, I know that God is good and that He cares in the midst of the storm. I trust in our Sovereign Lord.
"Many are the plans in a man's heart,
but it is the LORD's purpose that prevails."
-Proverbs 19:21
I would like to ask for your prayers for individuals and families affected by the typhoon. To read about typhoon Ondoy, click here.
"A true call of God puts a tug on your soul that you cannot escape, no matter how unattractive the cost of following it may feel. And what is the starting point for this process? The Bible leaves us in no doubt: do what you know to be God's will, and then watch how He will lead you into what you do not yet know. God reinforces his call as you respond to His nod."
-Ravi Zacharias, The Grand Weaver
I said to myself, "Why not? I've got nothing to lose anyway." I went ahead and submitted my application thinking that it will cost me nothing. I was wrong. That night, God called me to give up my everything and hear His call.
Two days later, my phone rang. It was 11pm and the call was from the States. I answered and heard two people talking on the other line but they couldn't hear me and soon the line was cut. Then it hit me. I got so nervous and said to my friend Dior, "It's AIM! Oh no! I haven't done fasting yet!" 5 minutes later, my phone rang again. My interview was done a week earlier than the scheduled date and throughout the interview all I could think of was God telling me that I am ready. I preached at our Youth Service that Sunday and a lot of the questions asked in my interview were the same questions that I challenged our youth with in my message. I knew that God has been preparing me for this.
I knew that I was ready. I've been praying about this for over a year now. My friends and my family know that I've been wanting to go. I applied for the World Race last year but I didn't get in because I don't have an American/Canadian Passport. Funny, last June, I laughed when I caught myself confidently saying "I am definitely going on the World Race soon". I didn't know God had the Novas Project in mind.
So that night, God gave me His nod.
And just as Abraham went up the mountain to sacrifice his beloved son Isaac, I have chosen to respond to His nod in obedience. I am going on the Novas Project Mission Trip on January 2010! I have heard God's voice and like a sheep, I am being led by My Shepherd to take this journey with Him.
"My sheep hear My voice, I know them, and they follow Me." -John 10:27
I live a life that is not about me and my life story - past, present and future- is about God and His glory. The Author of it all is the main character. My identity and my calling are defined by who my God is. So before I share a little bit about myself and answer the question "Who Am I?", I will first write about "Whose Am I?"
God bought me with Jesus' blood. He has called me to be His child. I didn't love Him, I rejected Him and I was living a life without Him. I grew up in a Christian home and lived with parents and siblings who were very passionate about God. There was never a time that I didn't know about God... but I didn't KNOW Him at all. I had no relationship with The Lord. It was during my junior year in college, when my world was falling apart, that God found me. The One who showed me love was the very person I rejected. He saw nothing in me that was pleasing, in fact, He saw an object of wrath. But my God took my wretched soul and loved me unconditionally. What an amazing Father! I am so grateful because I am undeserving.
On Christmas Day, I will turn 24 years old. Like making a wish list, it would be easy to make a long list of the things I regret doing. Even now as I thrive to please God with my life, I still find myself falling and failing a lot.
But that's why I call Him Saviour.
And that's why my life is written in grace - God's grace.
God has sealed me with His mercy and love.
But the Great Shepherd is not done with me yet. Everyday, with His rod and His staff, God is breaking, shaping and making me to be more like Christ. 2 Corinthians 3:18 echoes the main theme of my life:
"And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory,
are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory,
which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit."
As I start a great journey with the Novas Project, I seek to become more and more like Christ and to reflect God's image in and through me to a hurting and broken world. I shall be a little Christ and deny myself, take up my cross, and follow Him. I encourage you to take this journey with me.
Now here's some fun facts about me:
- I am Filipino - born and raised in the Philippines
- I am an ENFP and I have a 'silly switch'
(ask me about this later)
- I am spontaneous and Ilove the outdoors
- I amquite the adventurer
- I have chased monkeys, cats and dogs and have been chased by a peacock.
- I have facebook!You can add me there. :)
