Happy Resurrection Sunday

Our Lord Jesus is ALIVE!

Because of God's love for us...

Our past has been REDEEMED.

Our present SECURED.

Our future GLORIFIED.

Thank you, JESUS, for your LOVE... for your SACRIFICE... for your BLOOD.

HAPPY RESURRECTION SUNDAY!

Lord, Thank You for Loving Me

I'm spending this holy week with Mom and Sushi.  I packed our stuff and brought them all to Mom's.

I'm reflecting on how good God has been to me all this time.  He has provided me everything that I need. He has shown me favor beyond expectation. Though my health is still being challenged, I am confident that God is at work and I'm on my way to full recovery.  Honestly, this has been a difficult journey.  It's not easy to be in pain most of the time, but God has been sustaining me because He gives me enough strength to function normally when the need arises.  It's not also easy to be on a high dosage of steroids because I'm gaining the extra pounds and feeling way too heavy for my normal built which makes it difficult for me to move around.  Sometimes all these difficulties would make me want to give up, but God is constantly reminding me that He is not done with me yet... that the best is yet to come.   

God is so good... SO GOOD!

Lord, thank you for loving me.  I love you very much.  

Request for Prayer - Update

***UPDATE***

I received the results of my blood tests.  My creatinine level is now down to 115.90. Normal values are between 53-115.  Praise God!!!  Prayer is very powerful.  Thank you for praying for me! The rest of the tests are okay.  I still have to see my doctor to know what the next step will be.  I will have another round of blood tests after the Holy Week.  God bless you, my dear Prayer Warriors!

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March 21, 2013

Hi friends.

I will have another round of blood tests tomorrow.  I haven't been feeling well for the past 4 days.  I stay in bed most of the time because I've been feeling very weak. I really hate having all these symptoms because I couldn't do what I need to. I had to cancel meetings because I couldn't get myself to get up because of joint pains.  Please pray for me.  I really want these symptoms to go away.  I haven't been getting enough sleep either.

God, please help me. I need you right now.

Guest Post: God Don't Make No Junk

We love junk. We stuff ourselves with junk. We clothe ourselves with junk. We beautify ourselves with junk. We surround ourselves with junk. We read junk. We watch junk. We hear junk. We think junk. We even breathe junk.

Given all that, who’s to say we aren’t junk?

Well, if we weren’t so obsessed with junk, we wouldn’t feel that way.

Truth is, GOD did not and does not make junk. He created man to rule over His perfect world. He created man for a purpose.

But we don’t always see things that way, do we? All we see is how ugly, how ignorant, how unworthy, how small, how insignificant we are. We dwell on our weaknesses.

But you see, you are significant. You are special and unique. You are one of a kind, the only you there will ever be. Regardless of how visible or invisible you feel you are, no matter how popular or unpopular others say you are, no matter how rich or poor you think you are, whatever your background is, you are special in the eyes of GOD. You exist for a purpose.

Everyone has a destiny to fulfill. You have been placed on this Earth for a purpose, a special calling. The reason you feel crappy most of the time is that you are not doing what you are supposed to do, and you are not what you are supposed to be. The only way you will be happy and content is if you are able to fulfill your purpose, if you are able to achieve what GOD had intended you to achieve.

“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)

More often that not, the reason we are unable to live our life’s purpose is that we think so lowly of ourselves. We focus on our weaknesses, not our strengths. We focus on what we cannot do, not what we can. We focus on limitations, not potential. We focus on problems, not solutions. We focus on what the world thinks of us, not how GOD sees us.

Each of us is created special, with gifts, skills, talents and abilities unique to ourselves. Even our weaknesses and shortcomings are part of what makes us different from everybody else.

Don’t let your weaknesses stop you from fulfilling your destiny. Everyone is struggling with something. If you think you are the only one in the world with a problem like yours, think again. Nobody is exempt. Unfortunately, nobody wants to admit that. Most of us pretend to be someone we’re really not, and we end up playing a game all our lives.

We are afraid that who we really are – our thoughts, attitudes, private behaviors, and vulnerabilities – would be rejected if others found out about them. And so, we live our lives putting on mask after mask after mask until we can no longer see the real person underneath them all.

All of us make mistakes. But falling doesn’t make anyone a failure. Not learning from your mistakes does. The key is to admit your mistakes, learn from them, and keep moving on.

Nobody’s perfect. But we have a GOD who is. And perfect as He is, His intention is for us to be like Him. Like Father, like children. Isn’t that wonderful? All that is left is for you to always remember who you are in GOD’s eyes, and to live out your life with that in mind.

And don’t ever forget: GOD don’t make no junk.

“I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.” (Psalm 139:14)

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Jeanne Marie Bernardo 

Jeanne has been working with On Eagle's Wings Development Foundation Philippines, Inc., a  Non-profit organization with the primary purpose of developing and strengthening the capacity of social entrepreneurs through its value chain development program. A writer by heart, Jeanne has written several articles for her own organization's site. Her personal relationship with God is the common theme of most of her articles, and what keeps her inspired to write. Jeanne is mom to Paolo and Sharee and wife to Rommel Bernardo. 

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I'm Not Giving Up - Another Health Update

Just another update on my check up.

Yesterday I had my 3 doctors' appointments.  I showed them my blood test results and were quite satisfied with the improvement.  They said the results have to improve more until they hit the normal levels which I agree.  I will have another round of blood tests on Friday next week.  The good thing was all my 3 doctors were smiling when they were checking on my test results which was the total opposite of their reactions when I had my check up last March 1.

Now here's the challenge. They added more meds and supplements.  That translates to additional cost. I know God will provide as He always does. Sometimes through friends, through family members and sometimes through people I don't even know.  He makes a way.  Do I have the funds now to get all of the prescribed meds and supplements?  No, I don't, but I know I will.

I attended Victory Weekend, our church's retreat, early this morning to accompany a friend.  My faith was recharged.  And I know without a shadow of a doubt that my God will supply ALL of my needs from His glorious riches which have been given to me in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:19).

This lupus is sometimes driving me nuts because my moods and my thoughts are going faster than I could handle.  They go haywire at times that even if I wanted to stay calm, I become too overwhelmed that I feel like I'm going bonkers.  Trust me, I hate it when that happens.  But again, as God has promised, healing is mine.  And I will continue to claim that promise until I see the manifestation happening before my eyes.

I'm not giving up!

Thankful Thursday - Health Update

I thank the Lord that although my blood test results came out still on the high side, everything went down from the last test I had two weeks ago.  I'm still not sure what my doctors would say tomorrow during my check up, but from the looks of it, it seems that the meds that I've been taking lately are doing their job.

Thank you to all my friends who prayed for me.

Thank you, Lord, for this.  I know I'm still on my way to my healing and recovery. That hasn't changed.  


What are you thankful for this week?

For more Thankful Thursday, visit Laurie over at Women Taking a Stand.

I'm also linking up with Sarah over at Thankful Thursdays @ F4

Needs Prayer

Please pray for me.  I'm going to have another round of blood tests on Thursday.  I hope everything goes well.  I will be seeing all my three doctors on Friday.  Here's hoping and praying for a good report.

Lord, I humbly submit myself to you.

"Me" Time

What a beautiful day!  Woke up really early. Prayed. Got up and fed my fur baby Sushi. Had breakfast and went to do some filing for my work.  Just taking a short break here while listening to my fave 80's New Wave music.

It's "me" time today.  My nanny had her day off.  Hmm... Let's see, what shall I do today?

Oh, I had a haircut two days ago.  I decided to chop my hair short.  I think it's about time since I lost a lot of hair late last year, my hair looked so limp and thin. I didn't take a picture of myself yet. Will do soon.  

My weight is now under control, but since my doctor increased my steroid dosage since I had another flare a few days back, my face and upper body are beginning to grow big again.

Sigh!

This really upsets me.   When things are beginning to go back to normal... slowly... suddenly I'm back to square one.

Argh!!!

Though I know this is just a minor set back, still... 

Anyway, I don't want to dwell on that.  As I've said, today is a beautiful day.  So I intend to enjoy my "me" time the best I can.

Have a great day, my friends!

Thankful Thursday

Welcome to Thankful Thursday!

I have so many things to thank God for this week.

• I thank the Lord for the peace of mind I have even if I got a bad report last Friday regarding my health. I believe this was just a minor set back and I'm still on my way to full recovery and healing by God's grace.


• I'm grateful to have such a supportive family.  My siblings told me to upgrade my health card coverage to the second highest there is for a corporate account.  There's a huge jump in the monthly premium with this upgrade.  They told me to pay as is and my siblings agreed among themselves to pay for the difference. Thank you, Lord!


• I'm grateful for my friends here and abroad including bloggy friends. You're my Prayer Warriors!


• I'm grateful for the Lord's faithfulness.  He never failed to provide for my needs especially when it comes to money. There's a couple who are dear to my heart. who I fondly call Mamu and Papu; they sent me financial assistance.  Thank you!  A dear friend of mine and a colleague also handed me some financial assistance to help me with my meds and supplements. God touched these people's hearts to bless others as God Himself blessed them.  

• I thank the Lord that Sushi doesn't have ear infection anymore. Praise God! I can't help sharing her photos again.  She's just oozing with cuteness.  I also thank God for giving her to me because she's my stress reliever.  Hehe... How could she not be, just look at her.

• Oh, and also I thank the Lord for leading me to Pet-a-Holic's veterinary clinic.  I met the owner, Sandra Santos, and she was very nice to personally see to it that Sushi was well taken care of while being attended to by her staff. I also thank God that Sushi has good doctors.  Dr. Glenn Maguad took care of Sushi's ear infection and administered her second shot.

Lord, thank you for all these blessings.  Thank you that you're looking after me.  Thank you for everything!  Giving you all the glory and praise!

What are you thankful for this week?

For more Thankful Thursday, visit Laurie over at Women Taking a Stand.

Guest Post: Proverbs 18:24

There are “friends” who destroy each other, but a real friend sticks closer than a brother. In my life, I have had many people who said they were my friends, but, their actions said differently. When hardships came my way, or sad times, those "friends, were no where to be found. I was left standing alone, to face the storms in my life. But, there is a friend, that has always stuck to me like glue, in good times, and bad. His name is Jesus. Always faithful, and true. Thank You Jesus, I love You.

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Denise Oldham

Denise lives in Chattanooga, Tennessee. She's a loving wife to Eddie, momma to furbaby Coco, a Prayer Warrior, a blogger and a very dear friend. She inspires people by sharing her life's struggles and how she would battle them in light with God's Word. 

Visit Denise over at Shotybear's Place and The Lighthouse of Prayer.

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Lupus Update

I had my blood test yesterday.  Got the results today.

Bad news.

Rheumatologist and nephrologist said it seems like the lupus is active again and more aggressive this time. They wanted me confined so they can administer high dosage of steriods via IV, but I asked if there are any other options. They agreed to give me meds for now and repeat blood test on the 14th.

Please pray for me.

God's will be done!