Happy 2006!!!

Update On Mom 2

Mom is going home tomorrow. Her BP is still erratic but manageable. Her blood sugar went down a little but still on the high scale. Her creatinine level is still very high. Still doesn't look that good but we are all hopeful. She will have her check up again first week of January.

Thank y'all for your continuous prayer for my mom. I hope and pray that she will recover from this and significant improvement will show on her next check up.

God bless y'all.

Update On Mom

I haven't been able to visit other blogs this past few days which I plan to do as soon as I get some free time. So much has happened since Christmas and I know some of you might have already known about it. I'd like to thank y'all for your prayers.

Here's an email I got from my sis 10 minutes ago about my mom:

"Blood pressure is still up, they have given her series of nicardipine drips to stabilize her BP. Blood sugar fell from 500+ to 88, so you can just imagine the big drop and the effect it has again on her body. Our priority now is to stabilize her BP so her heart won't exert more effort in pumping blood."

I have shared some other problems I have with Corry and KC last Sunday which I decided not to post anymore. All I can say is my shoulders are heavy with all these but I'm keeping my hands free to receive God's help.

Merry Christmas!!!

Praying the incredible gifts only God

can give will be yours in abundance

this Christmas and through out the year.

With Love To You

"May your unfailing love rest upon us.

O Lord, even as we put our hope in you."

(Psalms 33:22)

Rewards & Promises

Thank y'all for your sweet greetings.

To everyone who's away from their loved one, take this encouraging thoughts to heart and may peace reign as we all wait for THE day.

Time ticks away,
Another day passed,
Near comes the day
when you're together at last.

God is providing
At work is His Hand
He is leading and guiding
till together you stand.

Knowing God's Promise
Being steadfast in faith
There is nothing but bliss
Rewarding your wait!

by: Corry Carmichael

Happy 3rd Anniversary!!!

It has been three years since Jec and I recited our vows --- "to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, until death do us part. "

We have gone through so much already since the day we said, "I do."

And we meant every word we said in church to this day.

Babe, you were and always will be the man I would marry if I have to do it all over again.

You're the man I want to grow old with and spend the rest of my life with.

Thank you for loving me and caring for me. For the joys we've shared and will be sharing in the days ahead.

You're truly God sent.

I love you, Babe and always...

Total Surrender

Yesterday was our Annual Christmas Convergence which was held in one of our concert venues to accommodate our constantly growing attendees. Our ten Victory congregations in Metro Manila met for a time of worship, fellowship and thanksgiving to God. The place was packed! Here you can see people give their all in worship for our living God. Prayers were uttered for thanksgiving and for petition for the different needs of the people. Children from our Kid's Church performed to the delight of everyone present. It was certainly a blissful Sunday afternoon for all of us... especially me!

Before I headed to church, at about lunch time, I called up Corry and KC just to say hi. I was full of emotions that time and she could recognize it from my voice. After our short conversation, a feeling of calmness brushed over my whole being. I felt encouraged.

When we were all praying in the convergence, I totally surrendered all my cares to Him. I give up! I realized that I have been trying to fix my problems on my own, pleading God to help me but I wouldn't let go. I closed my eyes with tears about to fall, raised my arms up high and said, "Father, I surrender! Please help me!" I felt peace right away. When I left the place, I still have the same problems but I'm not burdened anymore. I know God will take care of me. Everything will be all right... because He says so and I trust Him.

"Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you." 1 Peter 5:6-7

The Power In Jesus' Name

I copied this from a list of inspirational stories I was reading this afternoon. Miracles still do happen.

"A friend of mine was driving through an intersection one day and his little four year old son was in the car with him. The car door flew open and the little boy rolled out of the vehicle right in the middle of traffic coming from four ways.

The last thing my friend saw was a set of car wheels just about on top of his son moving at a very fast rate of speed. All he knew to do was cry, "JESUS!"

As soon as he could bring his car to a halt, he jumped out and ran to his son, who was perfectly all right. But the man driving the car that had almost hit the child was absolutely hysterical. My friend went over to him and started trying to comfort him. "Man, don't be upset!" he said. "My son is all right. He's okay. Don't be concerned about it. Just thank God that you were able to stop!" "You don't understand!" the man responded. "I never touched my brakes!"

I've Been Tagged... Again!

MC over at Tags and Other Forms of Mischief has tagged me... again!

Seven things to do before I die:
~ Go to Egypt, Israel and Greece
~ Go see the Oprah show live
~ Learn to knit
~ Share the Word to others
~ Pay all my credit card bills
~ Be a good mother to my future children
~ Bungee jump

Seven things I cannot do:
~ Cook
~ Bake
~ Play the piano
~ Convince myself to have a tatoo or a nose ring
~ Rap
~ To feel relaxed when there's a roach around
~ Drive a motorbike

Seven things that attact me to my husband/wife:
~ He's handsome. Simply irrisistable!
~ His thoughtfulness and selflessness
~ His sense of humor. He makes me laugh.
~ His taste in music
~ His shower-fresh scent!
~ His faith in God
~ His ways of pampering me

Seven things I say most often:
~ "I love you"
~ "I'm tired, I need a massage"
~ "Sheesh"
~ "Oh my goodness!"
~ "God is in control"
~ "God will make a way"
~ "I miss you, babe"

Seven books I love:
~ The Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren
~ Wife After God's Own Heart by Elizabeth George
~ The Bible
~ 36 Hours With Our Angel by Lindsay Roberts
~ When God Doesn't Make Sense by Dr. James Dobson
~ The Bondage Breaker by Neil T. Anderson
~ Connecting - 52 Guidelines for Making Marriage Work by Harrold J. Sala

Seven movies I would watch over and over again:
~ Notting Hill
~ Father of the Bride 1
~ Father of the Bride 2
~ Dirty Dancing 1
~ Titanic
~ The Sound of Music
~ The Student Prince

A Light At The End Of The Tunnel

I wished... I hoped... But God knows best. His thoughts are higher than ours. He is still in control, no doubt about that. The start of this week wasn't too good but I thank God for my friends' support. Without them, I don't think I'm still here posting. You wonder what happened? To some of you who have patiently tailed my posts, here's an update.

The Christmas tree. My hope. Sadly, I didn't get it. But another door was opened and I have no idea what's on the other side. I can only wish, hope and pray that it's greener when I step out there. When I look at my Christmas tree, tears fall. I expressed my intention of putting it down but DH said that I shouldn't because it's Jesus' birthday and Christmas is all about Him. I wish I could celebrate His birthday with my hubby...

I prayed.

We prayed.

I am so confused and distressing as it is, we're bent to make another major decision that could very well influence both our future. How do we really make sure that we make the right one? PRAY. That's what we're doing. Hoping for the best, the conclusion is yet to unfold.

When I started feeling anxious...

When I started feeling like everything is going out of hand...

When I started trying to fix what seemed to be a loose page in my book of life...

When I started "staring" at my present circumstance instead of His promises...

God reminded me --- "DON'T WORRY. I AM IN CONTROL."

Thank you, my dear friends, for your prayers. And yes, it's hard, but there is light at the end of the tunnel and it is in sight.

The Truth

I have a friend in the office who approached me this morning and asked if I know that God's name is Jehovah. I was a bit surprised but it got me thinking. I know the name Jehovah. I also know the name Yaweh. I know that God is called a lot of different names but I simply refer to Him as God. I was curious. So I also started asking him questions. Oh, by the way, he's a Jehovah's Witness, thus came the question about the name Jehovah.

"I don't seem to know the difference between your beliefs and ours." I said. "Do you believe that Jesus Christ is Lord?"

"Yes."

"Do you believe that God Almighty and Jesus is one?"

"No. We don't believe in the Trinity. We believe in God as the highest supreme being. He is God."

"And Jesus?" I asked.

"He's Lord. Next to God, but they're not one. Nowhere in the Bible can you find the word Trinity. You see, we base everything we believe in the Bible"

Hmm... True, but so is the word Bible. You can't find the word "Bible" in the Bible. Now, I'm beginning to feel that I should have paid more attention to my Bible class. I couldn't even pick the right verses to back up my claim.

"Okay, so what else is the difference?" I asked. "Do you believe in heaven and hell?"

"There's no heaven. We call it paradise. And that is where we are now, on Earth. There's no hell either."

"You mean to say that we're already in paradise? Then where do we go after we die? Those who are not saved, where would they go?"

"Those judged righteous will be given everlasting life on a paradise earth. Those judged unrighteous will not be tormented, but will die and cease to exist."

"Do you believe in the second coming?" I asked.

"The second coming has already happened."

Ok. So now I'm beginning to see the BIG difference here.

I believe that there is one eternal, almighty, and perfect God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. I found this article during a research I did and it says:

The Trinity consists of three Persons. In the passages in the Old Testament, a knowledge of Hebrew is helpful. In Genesis 1:1, the plural noun "Elohim" is used. In Genesis 1:26; 3:22; 11:7 and Isaiah 6:8, the plural pronoun for "us" is used. That "Elohim" and "us" refer to more than two is WITHOUT question. In English, you only have two forms, singular and plural. In Hebrew, you have three forms: singular, dual, and plural. Dual is for two ONLY. In Hebrew, the dual form is used for things that come in pairs like eyes, ears, and hands. The word "Elohim" and the pronoun "us" are plural forms - definitely more than two - and must be referring to three or more (Father, Son, Holy Spirit).

I believe in heaven and hell and in the second coming which is still about to happen. No one knows exactly when , not even the angels in heaven, but God. I believe that the Second Coming would be the second literal return of Christ to earth as King in power and glory. In Acts 1:11 it says that "... this same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven." 1 Thessalonian 4:16-17 says, "For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever."

These things, I believe, are debatable issues. But I know what I believe in. I do experience God in my life. He lets me know and go through the lessons He wants me to learn and He lets me experience His abundant blessings too. I know I will be with Him when I leave this earth and I know my God is real.

What Makes A Mother

Thank you to everyone who took the time to share a hug or two. Please feel free to give some more hugs whenever you feel like sharing more. It'll be very much appreciated.

I got an email from my friend who just had her D & C. Yeah, I know that's so sad. It brought back painful memories, but I don't mind sharing my story to anyone who went through the same dilemma my hubby and I did. If it could lighten their load a bit, I'm glad to have helped. She emailed me this poem and I'd like to share it to all of you.

I thought of you and closed my eyes
And prayed to God today
I asked "What makes a Mother?"
And I know I heard Him say.

"A Mother has a baby"
This we know is true.
"But, God, can you be a Mother,
When your baby's not with you?"

"Yes, you can," He replied With confidence in His voice.
"I give many women babies,
When they leave is not their choice.

Some I send for a lifetime,
And others for the day.
And some I send to feel your womb,
But there's no need to stay."

"I just don't understand this, God,
I want my baby to be here."
He took a deep breath and cleared His throat,
And then I saw the tear.

"I wish I could show you,
What your child is doing today.
If you could see your child's smile,
With all the other children and say...

'We go to Earth to learn our lessons,
Of love and life and fear.
My Mommy loved me oh so much,
I got to come straight here.

I feel so lucky to have a Mom,
Who had so much love for me.
I learned my lessons very quickly,
My Mommy set me free.

I miss my Mommy oh so much,
But I visit her every day.
When she goes to sleep,
On her pillow's where I lay.

I stroke her hair and kiss her cheek,
And whisper in her ear.
'Mommy don't be sad today,
I'm your baby and I'm here.'

"So you see my dear sweet ones,
your children are okay.
Your babies are born here in My home,
And this is where they'll stay.

They'll wait for you with Me,
Until your lesson's through.
And on the day that you come home
they'll be at the gates for you.

So now you see what makes a Mother,
It's the feeling in your heart
it's the love you had so much of
Right from the very start.

Though some on earth may not realize,
you are a Mother until their time is done.
They'll be up here with Me one day
and know that you are the best one!"
(by Jennifer Wasik)

Care To Give Me Hugs?

After a day's work, for three nights now, I'd come home to an empty house. I've been on my own when I was still single but "on my own" I meant supporting myself and living away from my family, not necessarily living alone. I lived with my best friend and her daughter in a one bedroom condo unit. When my hubby left to work abroad, I lived with my parents for a short while then I decided to just go back to our own house. This time I'm on my own, home alone. *sigh*

It sure feels lonely.

Care to give me hugs?

If you look at my side bar, the box below where my Daily Bread is, you'd see my *Hugs* box. Just click on the line where it says give me more hugs. I'd definitely be expecting my hubby to give me one BIG hug when he comes back home.

In the meantime, thanks for keeping me company. c",)

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

You Ask Why I Follow Jesus?

You ask why I follow this Jesus?

Why I love Him the way I do?

When the world's turn away from His teaching

And the people who serve Him are few.

It's not the rewards I'm after

Or gifts that I hope to receive

It's the Presence that calls for commitment

It's the Spirit I trust and believe.

The Lord doesn't shelter His faithful

Or spare them all suffering and pain,

Like everyone else I have burdens,

And walk through my share of rain.

Yet He gives me a plan and a purpose,

And that joy only Christians have known,

I never know what comes tomorrow,

But I do know I'm never alone.

It's the love always there when you need it;

It's the words that redeem and inspire,

It's the longing to ever be with Him

That burns in my heart like a fire.

So you ask why I love my Lord Jesus?

Well, friend, that's so easy to see,

But the one thing that fills me with wonder is

Why Jesus loves someone like me.

(From postive thoughts.com)

******

From the song Above All... (chorus)

Crucified

Laid behind the stone

You lived to die

Rejected and alone

Like a rose

Trampled on the ground

You took the fall

And thought of me

Above all

Serenity

I've seen these sketches several times in the past and I thought they're really great. Then I forgot all about them.

Yesterday, I've seen them again. I still think they're awesome just the same, only this time it gives me a whole new sense of serenity just by looking at them.

Choices

Everything happens for a reason. Those two stained tops (I just discovered that there were three, not just two, and a total of four ruined tops in three months) happened for a purpose. That is to teach me patience more. I must admit, patience is a virtue that I still struggle with sometimes. As I type this post fear is trying to set in, trying to get a hold of me again, trying to eat up whatever amount of patience I have. Then I'm reminded of our Christmas tree, why I decided to put it up and what it stands for this year.

FEAR --- False Evidence Appearing Real (by Joyce Meyer) is an emotion we can choose to feel toward something that hasn't happened yet that'll lead us to wallow in worry. Or we can choose to have FAITH and continue to TRUST in Him who promised that He has our situation well under control. I choose the latter. I choose to have joy and peace instead of anxiety. Everything's going to be all right! You know, writing this helps me remember that my God is bigger than any of my problems. He's bigger than any of my concerns.

"Father, I stand in your presence once again and lifting up this load to you. I believe that with you nothing is impossible. I know that you're going to make a way for us. The christmas tree I put up is more than just an adornment in our house, it symbolizes the faith I have in you. Father, more than anyone, you know my heart and my husband's. I believe in You. We believe in You. Thank you, Father, for giving us joy and hope. And thank you for giving us the strength to stand in what we believe you for even when the enemy is trying his best to control us through fear. I give you back all the glory. In Jesus' name, Amen."

Am I Making Sense?

I'm tired and extremely irritated of telling people how to do things and still end up doing it the wrong way. After seeing two of my light colored tops now with black stains on them, I completely lost it this morning. I was so exhausted from work yesterday, haven't had a good sleep that night and now this. I was furious! I could hear my hubby echoing in my ear what he used to tell me when things go wrong: "Babe, keep your cool and just let it pass. It's okay." No, this time it's not okay! That's the third one she ruined in three months. The first one was a light blue haltered top Jec gave me! Ooohh, I gave her a piece of my mind! Grrr...

My point is this --- all of us are expected to do the job we're being paid for, and a good job at that. We're allowed to make mistakes because let's face it, nobody's perfect. But we should LEARN from those mistakes. One misjudgement of a doctor can cause him his license. One major act of negligence can cause me my job. I also expect people working for me to do their job accordingly.

I didn't plan to do my venting here, but am I making sense?

An Act Of Faith

We usually have a long celebration of the Christmas season here. As early as September, Christmas songs are already being played on the radio. I remember my mom putting up the Christmas tree that early and it will be returned to its box by mid January the following year. We will also start doing our Christmas shopping at the first "ber" month to avoid the Christmas rush. When I was a kid, I will receive gifts as early as September and would excitedly pile them up under the Christmas tree. I love Christmas!

Now that I'm married, I usually put up our Christmas tree right after my birthday. But not this year. This year is different because my hubby is not going to be with me. Or so I thought. I didn't have the urge to get the tree out of the box and fix it up. My hubby was insisting that I should and so did my friends. During our Bible study, my cell leader said something that made me realize one fact about faith and prayer.

So last October 31, in just an hour and a half, I enthusiastically put our 7 ft. tree up and decorated it. It's an act of faith on my part for something that I have been praying for. My cell leader was right. I'm believing God for something and therefore I should act on it. My tree, up majestically, symbolizes my FAITH in Him whom I trust.

Lessons Learned

God has spoken to me several times about reconciliation and unity. I began to see some light the moment I decided to step out in faith and obeyed God. God wanted me to make the first move (I normally wouldn't). And I'm glad I did. A relationship has been restored. It is so important to obey God because it is when God's power is unlocked. I continue to pray for this person very close to my heart hoping in God that changes in this person's life will take place soon.

As I have always believed, God has a purpose behind every problem. God uses problems to draw us closer to Him. It is during adversity that we learn to pray our most heartfelt prayer. Problems causes us to look and depend on God instead of ourselves. I love this line from The Purpose Driven Life --- "You'll never know that God is all you need until God is all you've got." Everything that happens to us is with God's permission. He is in control. God knows what is best for us and has our best interests at heart. "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to His purpose." Romans 8:28

I have faced troubles in the past and I asked God several times, "Why me?" But now I have learned to ask God, "What do you want me to learn?" Those experiences taught me to be more patient and to hold on more firmly to God's promises. For Jesus said, "You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what He has promised." Hebrews 10:36

Blogaversary, Et Al.

It has been one whole year of fun blogging. Thank you all for sharing it with me. I'm looking forward to having more blogaversary to come. Love y'all!

*********************

Something happened this week that required me to hold on strong in my faith in God. It was made clear to me that everything happens for a reason. Whether good or bad, there's a purpose why things happen. I may not totally comprehend why, but with my faith that God is in control, somehow, in the midst of all the fuss, I have peace. I feel so sorry, though, for someone very close to my heart. I pray that God will move in this person's life soon.

I would like to thank Bonnie for all the prayers and the encouragement she sent my way this morning. God bless her.

*********************

Try this too. It's fun!

Which Hamtaro character are you?
Take this quiz at Sparrow's Song

Whatever Happened To My Template

I tried posting since the start of this week, but I couldn't think of anything to write. I have been sitting in front of my computer for almost three hours now and I still couldn't figure out what to post. I feel so frustrated because I think I have so many things to share and to write about, but words are failing me. To add insult to injury, my bamboo template vanished! My background became all white and some pictures just wouldn't show up. I didn't know what went wrong. I thought it was just my computer that's making it look so plain, but I viewed it on another computer and it still looked the same --- PLAIN. Geez... I intend to use this new template temporarily until I find myself a better looking one. Anyone knows where I could find one for free? HELP!

Oh no! My music isn't playing too. What is happening?!

Tagged Again

MC over at Tags and Other Forms of Mischief... has tagged me. Here goes:

10 years ago: I was working in a bank and was addicted to buying and selling stocks (it was a phase). I was constantly out on dinner dates.
5 years ago: My life was a mess. I had a big fight with my dad, went to live on my own and was jobless.
1 year ago: I had my first miscarriage. Had a bout with depression, been through an emotional roller coaster. Good thing I had strong support coming from friends, family and especially my hubby.
Yesterday: I was on the phone with my hubby without minding how much it would cost me. I got a very good deal using VoIP. Updated my blog and edited some CSS codes in my friendster account. Did some reports too.
5 snacks I enjoy: Lays Potato Chips, Green Salad, Fresh Fruits, Fresh Fruit Juice, Chocolates
5 songs I know all the words to: Somebody by Depeche Mode, Ask Me Jon by The Ocean Blue, Looking Through Patient Eyes by PM Dawn, You're Still the One by Shania Twain, As I Lay Me Down by Sophie B. Hawkins
5 things I'd do with $100 million: Donate to Christian Organizations, outreach programs and my church, Open an account for each of my family members, Tour the world, Go shopping!!!, Save the rest of the money
5 places I'd run away to: The Spa, Boracay, Amanpulo, Bahamas, Italy, Greece
5 things I'd never wear: Tatoos, Belly ring, False eye lashes, Gold tooth, Platform shoes
5 favorite TV shows: The Bold and the Beautiful, Charmed, Friends (Reruns), 8 Simple Rules for Dating My Teenage Daughter, Spongebob Cartoons
5 biggest joys: Jesus, My hubby, My nephews, Shopping, Blogging
5 favorite toys: Computer, DVD/Mp3 Player, Mobile Phone, iPod, Digital Camera
What is cool in my place: Our bathroom c",)

God Smiles

From the book I'm currently reading, there are a number ways we can make God smile. But the one that struck me most is this -- "we make God smile when we put our trust in Him completely". What does it really mean to trust God? It's so easy to give God praise when everything is up and well. But what if , as they say, all hell broke loose, would you still be able to praise God? Trusting Him means having faith in Him. Having faith in Him means living in peace and joy knowing that "... in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." (Romans 8:28)

When we are faced with problems in relationships, health, finances or something that seems impossible to solve in the natural, what do we do? God wants us to TRUST Him, to put our FAITH in Him. He desires to help us. God's help is not something we take notice of after we have exhausted all our efforts in trying to solve a problem. God's help is something we look on to first before anything else.

"Father, it is my desire to make you smile down at me. Help me to do the right thing. I trust You and I have faith in You. May your name be glorified. In Jesus' name, Amen."

If you have a secret sorrow
A burden or a loss
An aching need for healing...
Hang it on the cross.

If worry steals your sleep,
And makes you turn and toss
If your heart is feeling heavy...
Hang it on the cross.

Every obstacle to faith,
Or doubt you come across,
Every prayer unanswered...
Hang it on the cross.

For Christ has borne our brokeness
And dearly paid the cost
To turn our trials to triumph...
Hanging on the cross.

Author Unknown

Birthday Thank You's

Last Friday was a blast! Celebrated my birthday with friends. Had some cake slices with my officemates; had dinner at Capisce, an Italian restaurant at Metrowalk; then went straight to Aruba to continue the celebration. My friends, Dennis and Mel, insisted that they treat me out. So instead of having just a small get together with family, it became a PARTY at Aruba.

I

enjoyed the company of all my dear friends who were with me last week. I'd like to let them know that I appreciated what they did - going out of their way to do something so special for me. I have a lot of things to thank God for. To list a few, I thank God for:

• Adding another year in my life here on earth
• Giving me a husband who is so caring and thoughtful
• My mom, dad, siblings and nephews
• Giving me friends I could truly count on
• Our Tita Jojo and Tito Oscar
• A cell group that helps me grow more in the Lord
• Cyber friends who are always there to give encouragement
• The promises He gave me and my hubby
• Being my Comfort, my Savior, my Lord and my Heavenly Father

I wished my DH was here to have celebrated my birthday with me. I could have been happier. Well, maybe next time my family will be completed to celebrate with me not just my birthday but all the holidays to come. Until then, to all my well-wishers --- THANK YOU.

Happy Birthday... To Me!!!

Happy Birthday to me. Happy Birthday to me. Happy Birthday, Happy Birthday. Happy Birthday to me...

Our Beloved Tita Jojo

Tita (Aunt) Jojo, my hubby's aunt, left already for San Francisco last Thursday. She has to leave ahead of her schedule because a close relative of theirs from LA passed away.

I had a brief but fond memories of Tita Jojo and her husband, Tito (Uncle) Oscar, when I met them for the first time almost three years ago. They welcomed me to their family with open arms. Jec and I were only a few months married back then.

Two years after that first meeting, Tita Jojo came back for a short visit and stayed in our house for about two weeks. I got to know how such an angel she really is. She's the nicest person I've ever known. I've seen how she enjoyed giving a piece of herself to others without any trace of selfishness in her. She loves to give and she gives with a cheerful heart. She once said that she simply wants to share her blessings to others. I'm pretty sure God is so pleased with her.

After she left, she has already called me thrice just to check on how I was doing and to tell me how much she loves me and my hubby. Isn't she the sweetest?

Tita, you have already given and done so much for us and we'd like to thank you from the bottom of our hearts. We thank God for having you as our Tita.

God bless you and we love you!

The Purpose Driven Life

What on Earth am I here for?

This book will show us our purpose, why we are created and it'll also show us God's amazing plan for us. I've just started reading this book the other day and I'm taking it to heart. A chapter a day for 40 days.

"The Purpose-Driven Life is a blueprint for a lifestyle based on God's eternal purposes, not cultural values. Well-grounded in Scripture, it offers fresh insights on worship, fellowship, discipleship, ministry, and evangelism."

As they say, many people have had their lives changed by this book. I'd say this'll aid us to stay focus on what is really important and to remind us that it's all about GOD.

I've Been Tagged

Ok, Bonnie over at God's Most Wanted, has so kindly tagged me with the following meme:

1. Go into your archives.
2. Find your 23rd post.
3. Post the fifth sentence (or closest to it).
4. Post the text of the sentence in your blog along with these instructions.
5. Tag five other people to do the same thing.

My 23rd post was from my June 30, 2005 entry:
"Love Moves in Mysterious Ways" (Song by Julia Fordham)
The 5th sentence was:
"You and I wouldn't even try making sense of it."

Now it's my turn to tag five people:

1. Darlyn from My Very Own, My Family
2. Andrea from Adventures of an Ordinary Christian
3. Cindy-lou from The Song in My Heart
4. Gina from Refreshment in Refuge
5. Becky from The Faith Expedition

Just for fun. God bless!

God Knows

When you are tired and discouraged from fruitless effort...
God knows how hard you've tried.

When you’ve cried so long and your heart is in anguish...
God has counted your tears.

If you feel that your life is on hold and time has passed you by...
God is waiting with you.

When you’re lonely and your friends are too busy even for a phone call...
God is by your side.

When you think you’ve tried everything and don’t know where to turn...
God has a solution.

When nothing makes sense and you are confused or frustrated...
God has the answer.

If suddenly your outlook is brighter and out find traces of hope...
God has whispered to you.

When things are going well and you have much to be thankful for...
God has blessed you.

When something joyful happens and you are filled with awe...
God has smiled upon you.

When you have a purpose to fulfill and a dream to follow...
God has opened your eyes and called you by name.

Remember that wherever you are or whatever you are facing...
GOD KNOWS

Blessings & Curses

My hubby's aunts on vacation are staying with me for about a week or two. I never thought it would be this tiring - going around several destinations a day. Eating out like there's no tomorrow. Bought goodies as many as loading up a mini grocery store. Having a massage at the end of the day (that's the fun part). These were the things that's kept my hands tied for almost a week now. I've discovered so many things.

The best part of it was the bonding we all shared. They expressed their thoughts and feelings about the things that happened, is happening and is about to happen. They told me stuff that I never thought they would that made me grin from ear to ear (hmm...). They told me how much they care and how at ease they are with me. That's the sweetest. It's inspiriting to see how well we get along. Now the sad part is, again as what I've been told, there are some people who just couldn't be happy for us and would rather stay a loser. There are the loud ones who broaches their sentiments openly (they don't have the guts to say it to our faces though) and there are the silent types who secretly wishes us ill. Unbelievably pitiful!

Sorry for the disappointment of some, but my DH and I are thankful that we are blessed inspite of some trials that come our way and we are HAPPY.


"The LORD's curse is on the house of the wicked, but he blesses the home of the righteous. He mocks proud mockers but gives grace to the humble. The wise inherit honor, but fools he holds up to shame." Proverbs 3:33-35

The Real Meaning Of Peace

There once was a king who offered a prize to the artist who would paint the best picture of peace. Many artists tried. The king looked at all the pictures. But there were only two he really liked, and he had to choose between them.

One picture was of a calm lake. The lake was a perfect mirror for peaceful towering mountains all around it. Overhead was a blue sky with fluffy white clouds. All who saw this picture thought that it was a perfect picture of peace.

The other picture had mountains, too. But these were rugged and bare. Above was an angry sky, from which rain fell and in which lightning played. Down the side of the mountain tumbled a foaming waterfall. This did not look peaceful at all.

But when the king looked closely, he saw behind the waterfall a tiny bush growing in a crack in the rock. In the bush a mother bird had built her nest. There, in the midst of the rush of angry water, sat the mother bird on her nest - in perfect peace.

Which picture do you think won the prize? The king chose the second picture. Do you know why?

"Because," explained the king, "peace does not mean to be in a place where there is no noise, trouble, or hard work. Peace means to be in the midst of all those things and still be calm in your heart. That is the real meaning of peace."

"I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." John 16:33

Server Outage

HTTP 403 (Forbidden) WHAT???

Why couldn't I access my site??? What's going on? Was my site hacked???

Tuesday, September 20, 2005 (PST)
Blogger is suffering some problems due to a server outage leading to errors on Blogger as well as blogspot. We are trying to rapidly fix this problem and Blogger should be back up soon.

Ok. So I thought it was just mine. Whew! A few hours later, a friend buzzed me and said he could already access his. I thought maybe that goes for mine too.

YES!!!

Update: 9/21 12:02: This is fixed now.

Mailbox

In this time and age when almost everything has gone electronic, somehow one of my means of communication with my DH has remained "old-fashion". Yup, we are still into snail mail. I still enjoy the thrill of getting letters in the mailbox, sans the bills. I'll be forever grateful to the technology that we have now but nothing beats the excitement I get in receiving a letter from my DH the old-fashioned way. I'm like a kid who gets to open gifts on Christmas day. Although by the time we get it it's not anymore up to date, we still get teary eyed everytime we read each other's letters. I have to admit, we get all mushy sometimes. And oh, my phone bill suddenly has a thing or two to say on my major bills payment list.

Don't Dread

"The devil uses fear in forms we don't always recognize to steal our joy and prevent us from living the kind of life God intended."

This little book was mailed to me from Joyce Meyer Ministries. It's a book filled with practical applications that can cause great impact as we apply it in our everyday lives. A great reminder of how we can overcome the spirit of dread with the supernatural power of God.

Planting Seeds

I was told in the past and read in several Christian books including the Bible that if you "plant a seed" you can expect a harvest. I knew about this truth since ancient time, but I never took the challenge until last week. Yes, I give my tithes regularly but I never tried what they call "planting seeds". They said that if a farmer plants seeds, will he not expect a harvest after some time? Of course he will and so should we. We reap what we sow... Good or bad. I deliberately put it to a test.

I got a letter from Benny Hinn Ministries. It was about sowing seeds in faith. I decided to send a check in our currency to their local office. It was just a small amount, but that time it was all I can afford. I have mountains of bills to pay. I prayed and released my faith that God will bless my seed.

That was two weeks ago. I got a call from my DH. He said that his dear Aunt gave him money and told him to give it to me. I was surprised. Why would she do that, I asked. Well, she gave it out of the goodness of her heart. Then I realized that the amount I got was ten times the amount I sowed. Amazing!

God is truly awe-inspiring and He's faithful to His Word. We can definitely count on it.

"Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this, says the LORD Almighty, and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it." Malachi 3:10

"Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously." 2 Corinthians 9:6

I Will Give you Rest

Got home quite late last night from a meeting I had with two of my friends. The traffic was bad. There were protests going on that's causing the jam. Sometimes I wish life is a lot simpler. I didn't get enough sleep, I guess that's why I'm feeling pooped this morning. I need to finish tons of paper works but I couldn't start off because we ran out of printer ink again. This should have all been mopped up yesterday afternoon before I left the office. Now, I'm still stuck with it and no spare ink is yet available. I texted my husband to get some bits of consolation but the messages I sent him were all delayed. I feel like everything's screwed up. I just want to go home!

Just when tears of frustration were about to fall, I managed to click on to the Walking By Faith website of Pastor Duane Vander Klok which was stored in my Favorites folder. Talk about timing, here's what it says:

"Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." Matthew 11:28

"When you are physically exhausted, it's good to stop and take a break. Sometimes a short nap is all you need to feel refreshed again. In the same way, when you are feeling weary or burdened, it's good to stop and take the time to go to the Lord and rest in Him. In today's verse, Jesus wants to let you know that He loves you and wants to give you rest. Why not receive His rest right now."

 God is really awesome! He knows exactly what you need and when you need it. Thank you, God.

Still

As I look on my computer with a blank stare, music playing in the background, I couldn't think of anything to write. But I feel like I have so many things inside that I want to let out... I couldn't find the words.

"Father, I don't understand what I'm feeling now. I'm so flustered. I know that I don't need to understand everything and I shouldn't even be trusting my emotions now. Father, I just lift up to you whatever it is that's weighing me down. I put my trust in you. I ask for your peace and your joy to be with me. I ask all these in Jesus' name."

Still

Hide me now
Under your wings
Cover me
Within your mighty hands

(*) When the oceans rise and thunders roar
I will soar with You, above the storm
Father, You are King over the flood
I will be still and know You are God

Find rest my soul, in Christ alone
Know His power, in quietness and trust

Repeat (*)

The Waiting Game

I'm so swamped with work. I have my regular job and two sidelines. I try to keep myself occupied so I'll think less of getting gloomy. I still get to think of my DH every now and then, no matter how busy I am. Right now, I feel like dragging myself to finish everything that I have on my desk. I'm physically in the office, but my mind is somewhere adrift in Neverland. Thank God it's Friday!

I read this during my morning devotion before I started my work routine. It's from Joyce Meyer Ministries written by Dave Meyer. He said that at times our trust in God will be strained by situations where God does not answer our prayers as expected and where disappointments and heartache tear at our beliefs. We need to be taught the lesson of patience, to not try to rise up as though we had the power to solve our situations without God, and to wait in silence before Him. With what my DH and I are going through now, I believe that as we wait on Him, everything will turn out better in the end. I just know it will.

Thank you Cindy and Paula for your prayers.

Forgiveness

In the book I'm reading now, there's this topic about forgiveness and I thought why not write something about it. It's the one thing I've had a really hard time dealing with. It has been my perennial struggle even when I took my christianity seriously. Forgiveness was a far out thought for me. I just couldn't put two and two together like having to forgive someone who's not even asking for your forgiveness. Why would I have to forgive somebody who did me wrong and whom I despise so much? It just doesn't make sense.

Little did I know that forgiveness is not really given to free the other person from a grudge (well, that's part of it), but moreover, it's for my own healing! I've learned that forgiveness is a choice and a decision you make. That you can't wait for yourself to feel like forgiving because it's not going to happen ever. Our nature is to seek revenge, not to forgive. During one of our church's activities which is being done yearly (you only need to attend once), there was this session where I have to forgive those I have an animosity with. I have to renounce all bitterness that I hold in my heart. I became stiff. I just couldn't do it. No way! Thank God for Tess, my cell leader, who was so patient with me. She helped me face my "monster". I was sweating. I was jittery. I thought I heard voices telling me not to do it. But when I finally was able to release all of them, whose names were written on my little note pad, I felt calmness around me.

Well, that was just the beginning. It's God's grace that I am freed from it daily.

"For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins." Matthew 6:14-15

Prayers For Rebekah

Please join me in prayer for Rebekah and her family. Click on to the title of this post to bring you to her site. Let's pray together for healing and deliverance.

"For nothing is impossible with God." Luke 1:37

"For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them." Matthew 18:20

The Bondage Breaker

As I've flipped through the last few pages of The Wife... next in my reading pipeline is The Bondage Breaker by Neil Anderson. This is about breaking free from negative thought patterns, control irrational feelings and break out of sinful behavior. This book illustrates spiritual warfare which will also remind us, Christians, the truth of who we are in Christ and what it means to be a child of God. I believe this will help open our eyes and equip us to be victorious in every battle the enemy tries to win over us.

"But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ." 1 Corinthians 15:57

My Heartfelt Thanks

I'm having so much fun reading all your posts. It makes me feel like I'm around so many friends. Believe it or not, you all keep me company while I'm on my lonesome. I'm constantly encouraged by the entries of my Christian cyber friends.

I also get to express my thoughts and emotions through this, and it feels great to be able to give someone hope through the simple writing that I do. More than the pleasure of being appreciated, I love the thought that I can make God smile up there through what I do.

I'd like to take this opportunity to thank you all for being sisters and brothers-in-Christ. Thank you for the prayers you sent our way. My heartfelt thanks to all of you.

God bless!

Faith

In all of your circumstances,
Look for God’s blessing.
Look for His joy
And His love everlasting.

Seek out God’s goodness
In a world of tears and sorrow.
Seek out His hope
In the dawn of tomorrow.

Let His peace fill your heart,
Let His hand and word guide you.
Know that you are never alone
For He always walks beside you.

Let His love be your strength,
His trustworthiness your shield.
Be courageous as He goes before you,
His victory to yield.

Walk forward in faith,
Let the Lord work His ways.
His unfailing love is with you
For all of your days.

God, Our Mighty Healer

"Nevertheless, I will bring health and healing to it; I will heal my people and will let them enjoy abundant peace and security." Jeremiah 33:6

Let's join together in prayer for this precious girl, Rebekah.

"Rebekah is a wonderfully active three year old with lots of energy to spare. She lives with her mommy and daddy and her younger sister Sarah. In the end of 2004 we found out Rebekah likely had Cerebral Palsy as well as some other muscular/neurological issues. It took 6 months for us to get over that and get her started with special classes to help her grow to her fullest potential. Now she has been diagnosed with inoperable cancer in her face and neck (Ewing's Sarcoma). This Blog is about how this beautiful little girl (and her family) are coping with life on a day to day basis."

Nothing is impossible with God.

Father, I thank you for giving us power for any situation in life through the precious name of Jesus, Amen.

Rudeness... How Do You Handle It?

A friend called me yesterday, just about the time I finished posting. She said that someone wants to talk to me. "Mark?" I asked. (A common friend whom we haven't seen for a long time now) "Nope, she's...blah, blah, blah" Ok, I think I know who she is. Let's call her A. A was a college friend. We used to hang out a lot during those days. After graduation we went on our separate ways but would still see each other once in awhile with our other girl friends. After getting married, we saw each other less and less until we lost touch completely.

She greeted me with a hi and hello and an insensitive remark which annoyed me. It could be a joke (a sick one!), maybe she's just trying to be funny, but I felt really offended. I thought that she should have known better since according to her, she just had a miscarriage last month. I don't see why blurting out a tactless comment about losing my two boys should be amusing at all. You think she halted after that? Nope! She went on saying "Do you even pray?" That's it!!! She pressed all the wrong buttons this time!

Do I even pray??? I bet she prayed her heart out during that time when her doctor announced that dreaded news about her baby. Did she get her answer WHY it happened? Does that mean she didn't pray enough? My DH and I together with a whole bunch of others have been praying for a safe pregnancy. Matt died. Does that mean we didn't pray enough? God knows all the answers, I don't. I grieved with the death of my two boys. And I certainly won't tolerate anyone making fun of my loss!

I could have easily snapped back at her but I cried out to God instead. I prayed for strength and wisdom. I called up a friend from church to pray for me. My DH was fuming mad when he learned about what happened.

How am I now? I have God's peace and promise with me. And I'm not just about to let go of that.

"The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit." Psalm 34:18

A Wife After God's Own heart

I'm currently reading a book written by Elizabeth George - A Wife After God's Own Heart. I bought this book so I can read it simultaneously with my DH's A Husband After God's Own Heart by Elizabeth's hubby, Jim George. It gives a lot of valuable pointers on how to have a great marriage after God's own heart. Husband and wives ought to know their roles in the family and what God has to say about it. It doesn't just talk about raising children and money matters, it also talks about proper communication, even enjoying intimacy and a whole lot of other relevant issues.

"One secret to marital bliss is for a wife to love her husband the way God designed for her to love him—even with his shortcomings. God hasn’t called a woman to change her husband, but to focus on her calling as a wife. And the rewards for doing so are rich!"

I recommend this to all wives out there. This will aid you in keeping a marriage after God's own heart.

"Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. Husbands, love your wives and do not be harsh with them." Colossians 3:18-19

Perfect Timing

As I went through some of my stuff I left in my mom's house after getting married, I saw an old Bible which a friend of mine gave me nine years ago. I flipped through its pages and saw a piece of paper with notes written on it, with my hand writing. I couldn't remember why I wrote and where I got it from, but I find it most useful now more than ever. Here goes:

• In this natural world, there will always be things happening that will try to shake your faith. You've got to make up your mind that you really believe God is able. Then trust Him.

• You must trust God completely and stop trying to figure out what you will do if God doesn't come through for you because that will never happen. There is nothing too hard or impossible for God.

• No matter what the obstacle is, God is able!

• You have to begin to act as though God's promises are already yours. All that the Father has is yours! So if that's true, then act like it's true.

• You see, it's up to you. You have a part to play in receiving God's blessings. Receiving everything God has for you is not up to God because God has already provided you with every blessing and benefit you would ever need in life.

• God doesn't fail. People sometimes just give up too soon and quit. If you don't quit on God, God won't quit on you.

Truly, God is there when you need Him the most. He makes His presence known in ways we don't expect Him to. Talk about perfect timing.

Dreams

I was awaken by a dream the other night. It felt so real. I thought it was real.

In my dream, my DH finally went home from the States. I was so surprised to see him outside our house and was so happy to see him back. Everything seemed so perfect and then I woke up. Later that morning, I texted my DH to tell him about it. He said that he had the same dream. He asked his friend to pick him up from the airport and didn't tell me he's coming home because he wanted to surprise me.

Wow! That's amazing and how sweet! Then it got me thinking. How often do we really experience having the same dream with another person? Why did we have the same dream? I must admit, it scared me at first. Jec, with his usual inspiriting way, told me that maybe it's one way of God telling us that we're going to be together again really soon. Or maybe God wants us to stay close even in our dreams. Maybe... I'd like to think that with God on our side, with God leading us every step of the way, my DH and I are assured that we're in good hands. That dream we had could only mean something good.

As I'm typing this now, my DH just texted me and said he's about to go to slumberland. Told him that I'll see him again in my dream. **wink**

Missing You

You're in my mind but out of sight
You fill my thoughts day and night;
I know you're doing the right thing
A brighter future this will bring.

As these days go on by
You will see time will fly,
soon enough we'll be together
And life will be much better.

I miss you, Babe

Jeremiah 29:11

Still adjusting to my new life without my DH and I hope and pray that this temporary set up will be over soon. I was so depressed yesterday because I wanted so much to call him and to text him but I couldn't. I felt so helpless. He didn't have his own phone yet and I didn't know where to call him because they were constantly on the road traveling from San Francisco to Las Vegas to Los Angeles and back again. I cried and cried for hours while asking God for help. I called up TCT for prayer and good thing there was this nice lady, Faith, who was so patient with me as I poured out my emotions to her. The weather was gloomy just like my mood. It was raining hard outside. Two hours after that phone conversation with Faith, my DH texted me his new number which means he already has his own phone! Yes!!! I was so ecstatic! Oh, God, thank you! My mood changed in a snap. Even if it was raining hard, I thought it was a wonderful day!

Later that afternoon, I attended the service. Our pastor was discussing about who God is then all of a sudden I heard him say "Jesus will remove you from your present situation". I was struck dumb by what I have heard. I thought, God, are you talking to me? I knew right there and then that God, indeed, has a an extremely good plan for my husband and I.

"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." Jeremiah 29:11

I went home with a smile.

Life's Lesson

I have to keep myself occupied to put my thoughts and emotions at rest, even for just a while. To start off, I was offered a consultancy job for a newly established phonecard company that caters to PhilAms. That would be a great way to keep me busy aside from doing my regular job. And of course, I blog hop as often as I can and post new entries too.

I found this interesting article Corry wrote on the comment page of Mary Rose's "No More Mr. Nice Guy" entry. It's about one brilliant way the mother showed her daughter the kind of person she can choose to become as she is faced with life's unending trials. Three pots. Carrots, Eggs and Coffee beans. All three were put to boil. Each reacted differently.

When adversity knocks on our door, how do we respond?

Are we like the carrots that seem strong, but with pain and adversity, do we wilt and become soft and lose our strength?

Or are we like the egg that starts with a malleable heart, but changes with the heat? Did we have a fluid spirit, but after a trial, have we become hardened and stiff? Does our shell look the same, but on the inside are we bitter and tough with a stiff spirit and a hardened heart?

Or are we like the coffee bean that actually changes the hot water, the very circumstance that brings the pain. When the water gets hot, it releases the fragrance and flavor. If we are like the bean, when things are at their worst, we get better and change the situation around us.

This article made me do a lot of thinking. Something to ponder and learn from.

And finally, the most noteworthy of all was the fact that the happiest of people don't necessarily have the best of everything; they just make the most of everything that comes along their way. The brightest future will always be based on a forgotten past; that you can't go forward in life until you let go of your past failures and heartaches.

How do we handle adversity? Are we like the carrots, the eggs or the coffee beans?

Don't tell GOD how big your storm is. Tell the storm how big your GOD is.

"We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed." 2 Corinthians 4:8-9

Sentimental Fool

I would like to thank Corry, Cindy-lou, Darlyn, Jovel, Melo, Allan and my cell group members for all their prayers. It means a lot to us. Thank you!

It has been four days since my DH left but it feels more like it has been four years. After going back to our house last weekend, I felt so alone, though I'm with a helper. Some of the things he left behind are still neatly tucked in its original place. Like his toothbrush, it's still in the toothbrush holder together with mine. I didn't pull it out because it makes me feel like he's just around. His shampoo is still in our shower rack. I opened his closet and hugged all his shirts as if I was hugging him. I didn't change bed sheets and I slept on his side of the bed. Call me a sentimental fool, but I'll do everything possible to stay close to him. After five long distance calls from him in four days, I feel like it's still not enough. I guess I just miss him that much... so much.

Now going to the mall, the grocery, to my doctor, to the salon, eating out and a whole lot of other stuff we used to do together wouldn't be the same again. Albeit I understand why this has to be the way it is for now, it's that hard because we haven't been away from each other since we got married.

Everytime he calls, he assures me of his love and tells me to take good care of myself while he's away. And I tell him the same thing. I wish I could say that missing him gets easier everyday because even though I'm one day further from the last time I saw him, I'm one day closer to the next time I will. It's just that right now, I haven't came to that point yet.

Thank you for taking time to read my sentiments. Prayers for me and my husband will be greatly appreciated. God bless you all.

Goodbyes Are Not Always Forever

I have never felt so empty as I've felt when my DH left for the States last Wednesday. I thought I could handle it well. Though I was already feeling sad while I was helping him pack, tears didn't fall until the last night we were together. I could hardly breathe from sobbing. The following night, as our friend and I went with him to the airport, I felt like I was floating on air. Everything around me seem to move in slow motion. I thought to myself that this could just be a dream, that this wasn't real. He checked in his luggages and went back out to be with us. We hang around a bit. Then it's time for him to go. We were both crying. We hugged each other so tight. We said goodbyes so many times but we couldn't let go of each other. Then he went in for boarding. There I stood looking at him, he waved at me for the last time and then he's gone.

Memories of us together flashed back. The simple joy we've shared, the trials we've surpassed... He used to tell me how much he loves me, that nothing comes close to how much he feels for me, that he adores me and cares for me more than he cares for anyone else. And I assured him that I feel the same way too.

Now, we're miles apart.

I remember how God told me that he's the one I'm going to marry. I couldn't believe it at first. But God confirmed it to me several times. When we were already planning our wedding, God spoke to me again about it. I knew deep in my heart that Jec is God's perfect choice for me.

Babe, I want you to always remember that I love you very much. God gave us each other as lifetime partners. Nothing, not even distance and no one could ever separate us. I pray to God that He will always keep you safe and healthy. I'm looking forward to being with you again soon. God bless you...

Let Go And Let God

"Therefore humble yourselves...casting the whole of your care on Him, for He cares for you affectionately and cares about you watchfully." 1 Peter 5:6,7

How often do we fall into the trap of fear and worry? I could have been an amenable victim until now and I could have long suffered a breakdown if not because of God's promises. I used to be a control freak. I panic when things don't go my way. I worry a lot! My friends used to say that sometimes I come in too strong. Maybe because I know I'm in control. A lot of times I distress myself worrying about things to come. In the midst of all these, God taught me to trust in Him and to cast all my cares on Him. It wasn't at all an easy move to make but it was definitely worth trying. When we put our trust in Him, we have to learn to let go and let God. He promised to take care of us. And "He who promised is faithful." Hebrews 10:23

Worrying will not achieve anything. But giving it all to God will. There are just some things that we cannot get our hands on and we must simply let God do the work for us. For a control freak like I used to, trust is nonexistent. Stress was my twin.

God gave us the way, it's up to us which road to take. Choose the easier path. Let go and let God.