Thankful Thursday - Giveaway

Hi, everyone! It's great to be back. Finally!!! This is going to be my permanent web residence. It's still a work in progress but I can already welcome visitors and friends to stop by, look around and have tea with me.
To celebrate, I've decided to have my first ever giveaway. This is also my way of saying thank you to all of you for your support. My Life's Journey hasn't been easy but I thank the Lord for sustaining me all these years. I know I have a great future ahead of me - abounding in blessing and favor. I'm looking forward to filling the pages of this blog with stories of miracles and breakthroughs.

Anyway, back to my giveaway... it's a surprise. I made sure it's special. Anyone can join by leaving me a comment with your email addy too so I can inform you when your name has been picked. I will also post who the winner is plus the photo of the gift. This will start today, February 19 until March 1. I will randomly choose the winner on March 2, 12 noon (Philippine time).

Thank y'all for celebrating with me! I thank God for all of you...


For more Thankful Thursday, visit Iris over at Grace Alone. Have a happy weekend ahead y'all. God bless! =D

Don't Let The Enemy Steal Your Joy

Do you have joy in your heart? You see, with all the things that's happening in my life right now, God gave me joy in my heart. I heard this small voice that said "trust me" while I was still in bed one morning and was crying my heart out to the Lord. The words that were spoken to my heart were so clear. I knew it was from the Lord. It gave me great comfort to know that He hasn't forgotten me yet.

I used to fear laughing out loud, you know, being really happy, because I believed then that if I laugh so hard or if I'm too happy, I'd be crying later on. And I don't want that. The enemy made me believe this lie for years. I've learned that it is God's will for me to be happy, to live a victorious life. God wanted me to enjoy my season. But of course, the enemy didn't want any of that. He wanted to make sure he steals my joy. You know, he almost did. Yesterday I was on the phone with my friend Paz. I was telling her how tired I was with life. I started questioning God's purpose for doing things the way He does. Then she said something like, "Don't let the enemy steal your joy. He wanted to suck up all the joy in your heart so you'd be miserable. Remember, God already gave you His word. He's making you question God. Stop that!" Then she prayed for me.

After hanging up, I knelt down on the side of our bed and repented. I still wasn't feeling right after praying but I told God that I will praise Him even if I didn't feel like it. Early that morning, around 2:30, I woke up because I thought I heard the doorbell rang. I knew I heard it, but I didn't get up to open the door because I wasn't expecting anyone. I waited for it to ring a second time and then I'll get up. But there's none. After a while, I heard water flowing from our bathroom like somebody was taking a shower. I raised up my head a bit to make sure I was hearing what I thought I was hearing. I mean, look, it's 2:30 a.m., I can even hear my own heartbeat. I knew it was the enemy. Whether he did those things to scare me or he's playing with my senses, I don't know. What I knew was that greater is He who is in me than he who is in the world.

Do you have joy in your heart? Don't let the enemy steal your joy.

Things To Do

We have a long weekend starting tomorrow. Some would be going out of town, but I'm staying home! So if that's the case, I need to make a list of things to do and make myself a little busy this weekend or I'll go crazy with boredom.

Let's see, I'll wake up at 10 a.m., I'll clean our unit, watch DVDs, have longer quiet time (Oh, God! I need to talk to You about something I did... again!) and yeah, it's Job's birthday tomorrow - Paz's youngest son. What else... Hmm... Hey, that list is just for tomorrow. How about Friday, Saturday and Sunday?

Oh man! this is really gonna be a looooong weekend... =(

This Thing I Call Life

It's been awhile, I know. Just when I thought things couldn't get any worse, guess again! But they're all water under the bridge now. Things are starting to pick up, at least I'd like to think so. My mom and dad are back from the states. I got myself and Jec a condo unit which we're renting now. I was telling God two months ago after Jec and I decided to give up our apartment, which let me just say wasn't easy because I've grown so attached to it, it's where Jec and I lived since we got married; I wanted to get a unit in this condo which we can call "home" in a year's time or so. I never really expected to get one this soon. God literally kicked me out of my comfort zone and out in the streets until I finally got hold of this unit. Paz and Mags, two of my churchmates, can attest to the kind of hell I've gone through before I got to where I am today. I couldn't even believe myself that I made it this far. And it's all because of GOD. He made everything possible. When I look back at those days, I couldn't even start to imagine how I got from there to here. It was more like God leading my steps, telling me what to do even if His instructions were hurting me, I obeyed. It paid off.

Prayers of friends and families all over the globe surely kept my sanity. Thank you! Now you ask, how am I now? I'm good and expectantly waiting for God's promises to come alive in my life and Jec's too.

Thank y'all for praying. (((HUGS)))

God At Work!

I just need to share this with y'all. As some of you know, Jeric and I are in a situation now that only God can turn around. I sent a prayer request to Christian Women Online and this is what Darlene, the founder and editor of CWO, said:

"Pia, I was praying for you earlier that God would open doors for you and Jeric, I wasn't sure why I was praying that. Then I read your letter, and I see that you need doors of opportunity for Jeric, doors that guide him home, and a door that you can both call "home." The Spirit is making intercession for you. Praise God."

Yes, Praise God! He is at work.

"Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them." Hebrews 7:25

It's Beginning To Feel A Lot Like Christmas

How time flies. It's December once again and soon it'll be the start of another year. I wonder how the new year would be like for us. Hmm... I can only hope for the best. Mom and dad are spending white Christmas with my brother's family in Newark. My SIL and nephew, Andre, are spending Christmas with me which I think is a very good idea because if not, I'll be spending Christmas alone. Bad idea? I think so too. Well, my tree is up since October, I always put mine up right after my birthday. You'd say it's early? Well, when I was a kid, my mom would put up the tree as soon as the "ber" month starts and that'll be around September 15. Ha! Now that's early!

Anyway, I'm so looking forward to December 26 because my hubby's coming home! Yipee! Although we won't be able to celebrate our 4th anniversary and spend Noche Buena together this year, we will during the Media Noche and all the special occasions in the years to come. Yup, my hubby's coming home to stay.

At the service last night, I got so encouraged with the message our pastor shared that what God has promised, it will come to pass. So for all those who feel hopeless, don't be. We serve a faithful and mighty God who can do even the impossible. Our job is to BELIEVE. Have you ever heard the saying that God helps those who help themselves? Well, uh, yeah, but I think it's more correct to say that God helps those who are helpless. I hope you too will be encouraged today as we remember who God really is.

Happy weekend!

Inspirational Nugget

Life can only be understood by looking backward, but it must be lived by looking forward.

"Jesus replied, 'No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God.'" Luke 9:62

Sean Matthew G. Olano

Inspirational Nugget

Sorrow looks back. Worry looks around. Faith looks up.

"Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God." Hebrews 12:2

Sean Anakin G. Olano

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",)

Love Is...

I'm so glad it's Friday! That means I can stay up late tonight and wake up really late tomorrow. Ha!

Jec and I had a haircut yesterday. I also had my eyebrows done. And a foot massage too. On our way home, Jec asked what if he had his head shaved? I thought he was just joking. He was serious! Hmm... I'm not so sure. I told him to give it a shot. It's going to grow back anyway.

At home, I'm not just Jec's wife but also his skin care therapist and his nutritionist all in one. He used to only have a soap and shampoo for bathing. Now, he also uses other skin care products I'm using. Talk about being vain. Haha! I also constantly remind him not to eat OILY food and to take his vitamins daily. Gosh! He eats a lot and hates to exercise. One thing I love about him, though, is that he supports my being "kikay". c",)

Jec knows how much I love veggies and sea food, which he ultimately dislikes, but he still cooks them for me. Our friends are witnesses on how much Jec pampers me. I'm really going to miss him soooo very much!