Till We Meet Again...

I just started packing Mom's stuff and it brought back memories. Tomorrow is exactly two weeks since Mom's gone. It's impossible not to be emotional.

What comforts me is the fact that Mom gave her life to Jesus years back and was rededicated to Jesus a week before she joined our Lord in Heaven. My youngest brother who's in New York felt very strongly to share the gospel again to Mom via Skype. I know in my heart that she is now reunited with Dad and together, they share everlasting life with our Lord Jesus Christ.

I miss Mom very much. When I was confined in the hospital last 2012 because of SLE, even though she, herself, was sick and had just came from her dialysis, she spent the night in the hospital to take care of me. She has been a very loving Mom to me and my siblings. She's not perfect, but she's the best Mom ever. 

Mom helping me choose stickers for the pens my sister is going to use for her daughter's birthday party two days before she breathe her last.

To all who prayed for Mom, thank you. 

Lord, thank you for the life of Mom. Thank you for welcoming her to your Kingdom. Thank you for granting her complete healing.

Mom, you fought a good fight. I know you are in a much better place now - free from sickness and pain. No more needles, Mom. I love you very much, Mom. We love you very much. We will treasure everything you and Dad taught us. You will never be forgotten... You will be forever loved. Till we meet again... In Heaven...

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!

How Has Your Year Been?

In two days 2012 will be gone.  How time flies.  

Today I asked myself this question - How has 2012 been to me?  There are definitely so many challenges that happened this year, but I've also received so many blessings and miracles.  

Dad left this imperfect world to be with Jesus last April... I got sick two months ago, but I'm recovering pretty well. I received miracles after miracles of healing and divine provision... I deleted "friends" from my life who are toxic; turned out to be a blessing in disguise... This is also the year when I became debt free.

I didn't see the beauty in these seemingly tragic events while it was happening, but now I do.  

God is good.  

Although 2012 is marked with tears and sadness, it is also marked with joy and happiness. God sure knows how to balance things. 

So, how has your year been?

Here's looking forward to a year of abounding blessings, grace and favor as we welcome 2013 with great expectancy and hope.  

Jesus My Healer

I am in awe of God!

Today began with a miracle.

October 15, 2012 / October 17, 2012

See that?  My feet are no longer swollen. Praise God!

In my post before this, the doctor said that this condition was kind of scary. The medicines that would be administered to me would be so costly. I wasn't afraid though. So I prayed and humbly submitted myself to the will of God.  I spoke to this mountain of illness to be healed in the mighty name of Jesus.  Sang praise and worship songs then went to sleep.  I believed in my heart that God would heal me as He promised and this greeted me this morning.

Next would be the result of my albumin test.  I went to the lab and got the results.  Praise God!  They all turned out normal.

My pulmonologist cleared me.  All tests were good.

My nephrologist was surprised to see how much I've improved.  He checked my vitals and said all good.  He checked the results of my albumin test and said they're good. I showed him my CBC results and he said good. Then he looked at me and said, "What on Earth did you do? What shall we do now?  You're okay! Just repeat urinalysis 2 weeks from now then see me again."

Those words were music to my ears.  Who else is able to turn things around in an instant? It's only JESUS!  Jesus, my Healer!

I still have to continue the steroids for lupus as prescribed by my rheumatologist until I repeat CBC, also 2 weeks from now.

I'm jumping for joy for this miracle I received from Almighty God. I believe I've already received my complete healing as Jesus has promised.

By the way, this was the song I kept singing last night.



Dear friends, God is true to ALL His promises.  He is faithful! Thank you for praying for me.  Thank you for believing with me.

While I was going through these trials, Mom was always praying for me. I know how much she wanted me to be well again. I know because she often cried while praying for my healing. Thank you, Mom. I love you very, very much.

All praises to God!!!

Confined Again... Con't.

Wednesday (October 3, 2012)

• Worst day of my confinement.
• WBC and platelet counts went up a little. This is the first good news since I was confined.
• RBC and hemoglobin levels are still going down, but not as fast. 
• Fingers on my right hand were beginning to feel stiff. I couldn't bend them anymore. Requested that the IV be transferred to my other hand. Also, since finding a suitable vein to extract blood from in my left arm is getting more difficult each day, the transfer would mean they would have to extract blood from my right arm. My left arm's veins can rest.
• Although dengue has not yet been ruled out, it is still one of the possible causes. 
• They brought in a nephrologist to assess my kidneys since my creatinine levels were high. 
• Blood transfusion may be needed if my RBC continues to drop. My rheumatologist put on hold any plans of blood transfusion because she needed to make sure my WBC and platelets are within controllable levels. 

Thursday (October 4, 2012)

• No blood samples were taken today. My arm could use the rest from all the pricking. 
• Started experiencing pain in my lower lumbar region. It's there whenever I am lying down or sitting. When I walk it disappears. So, I did some exercise: I walked up and down the aisle around 5 times. That helped. 
• My nephrologist visited me today. He said that my electrolyte test turned out okay. Praise God! He told me that they might have to do a biopsy if my creatinine levels do not go back to normal levels. Just hearing him describe the process makes me cringe. I don't like needles, especially large ones! 
• My cough is getting worse. The doctor gave me some medicine to get rid of it. Towards the evening, my coughing began to subside.
• Before going to sleep, I had a migraine attack. The resident doctor gave me paracetamol, but it felt like forever before it took effect. I forced myself to throw up, thinking that I must have eaten something that didn't site well. Some coloured fluid came out. Could have been the paracetamol tablet, since the liquid was orange in colour. After around 10 minutes, I was fine.  I finally fell asleep.

I still tried to smile in spite of the pain I was feeling. 

Friday (October 5, 2012)

• Woke up with a terrible, head-splitting headache. Do you know how it feels like when your sleep is interrupted because people go in and out of your room to check on your vital signs? I know that the nurses had to do it, but once my sleep is interrupted, I find it difficult to go back to sleep. I think this is why I had a migraine. I took some paracetamol again. I was able to sleep for around 3 hours. I woke up hungry, but feeling a lot better. 
• I miss my own bed. I told myself that I want to go home tomorrow, Saturday. I prayed to God that He will make all my test results show the doctors that I am fit to be discharged tomorrow.
• Good news: one of my attending physicians told me that my WBC is now normal.  Praise God!
• Mom spent the night at the hospital to take care of me. 
• Visited by friends and church mates
• Removed the IV. It wasn't as painful as I thought it would be. Now I can move freely again! 
• IV steroids to oral steroids.
• Had another migraine attack. Mom tried to ease the pain by stroking my head. It helped a bit.  I had to throw up and get rid of a piece of kangkong. After throwing up, I felt a better. 

I prayed to God for healing and miracles to happen. Honestly, I was so scared.  I praised and worshipped God and told Him that my life is in His hand.  I was in so much pain.  I told God that if He's going to take me now, I'm ready.  I just don't want to see my family suffer because of me.  I know they're hurting too especially Mom. I could see how worried she is.  But praise God!  I got miracle after miracle in the hospital.  The doctors expected the worse, but God delivered me.  

I may have been tested positive for SLE, but I know my God is in control.  I know that healing is mine and I will continue to claim that until the day He calls me home.  Please continue to stand with me in prayer for my healing.  Thank you so much.

Saturday (October 6, 2012)

• Got discharged from the hospital. Hospital bill was paid by my health card.  I shelled out minimal amount only for the excess.  Praise God!

Till We Meet Again...

Dad was finally laid to rest last Sunday, April 29.  Although my family has already accepted the fact that Dad is now with Jesus in heaven, we miss him terribly.

Dad did not die of cancer.  He had diarrhea that caused severe dehydration.  Antibiotics were administered, but Dad's body did not respond to them anymore.  Dad's passing was so sudden.  He didn't have a hard time breathing nor was he in pain.  Before Dad had a septic shock, he was able to utter these very important words --- BY JESUS' STRIPES, I AM HEALED.  Dad meant it with all his heart and might.  That's why when he breathed his last, I knew in my heart that Dad went home to be with our Lord that very night.  

It's painful to think that when we need to talk to Dad and seek his advice, he wouldn't be here anymore.  When I close my eyes, I can still hear him laugh and say to each one of us --- I love you, anak (my child).  

I wish Dad had ten more years on this Earth to be with us.  I wish...

We all prayed for Dad's healing and indeed God answered us.  It may not be the way we expected it to be, but God is still faithful.  

Thank you for praying for my family.  Thank you for praying for Dad.  Thank you for all the help and love you've shown my family.  May God bless and keep you.

Lord, thank you for welcoming Dad in to your kingdom.  Thank you for granting Dad complete healing.

Dad, we love you and we always will.  You will forever be in our hearts.  You will always be remembered.  Till we meet again...

Glorious Day

Thank you, Jesus, for everything you did.  
I love you!  
All glory and praises to You, my Lord.

From Me to You

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

 My family

Lunch at Kao Chi Restaurant at Amoranto St., Quezon City

Dinner at my sister's house

Lord, thank you for my wonderful family.  

Happy birthday, Lord Jesus!!!

Merry Christmas!!!

 

Who Is In Control?

I like what our pastor said last night. He said, "Whether you believe it or not; whether you accept it or not; whether you acknowledge it or not, doesn't matter.  God is still in charge."

"From the east I summon a bird of prey; from a far-off land, a man to fulfill my purpose. What I have said, that will I bring about; what I have planned, that will I do."  Isaiah 46:11

"He changes times and seasons;  he sets up kings and deposes them. He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the discerning."  Daniel 2:21

These verses illustrates clearly that God has the power to fulfill everything He says and that He has the power to change anything.  God is in charge.  He is in control.

"This is what the LORD says to his anointed, to Cyrus, whose right hand I take hold of to subdue nations before him and to strip kings of their armor, to open doors before him so that gates will not be shut" Isaiah 45:1

He can use even a pagan king, King Cyrus, the appointed one, to facilitate His divine plan.  Here, it clearly illustrates that our unsaved loved ones can be used by God Almighty to carry out His righteous purpose.  God knows how to get their attention.  He is in control.

"'For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,' declares the LORD. As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts."  Isaiah 55:8-9

He knows what He is doing.  He is in control.

As I reflected on these truths and pondered upon them,  I was encouraged to be reminded of these truths:

• God hears our prayers.
• He has a plan for us.
• He knows what He is doing.  He had everything planned out already.
• I can trust Him to do what He said He'll do.
• He is in complete control of anything and everything on this Earth including my life. He can destroy and restore. He has the power to do anything.
• He speaks not only to His people but to unbelievers and backsliders as well. 

Are you, like me, waiting for something you've been praying for for quite some time now?  Does it look like it's not going to happen anymore?  Does your situation look impossible?

Stand strong.  Keep believing.  Keep thanking Him because our due season is closer than we think. All those dreams and desires God wanted us to accomplish, those situations we are believing to see changed, will happen!  God can use unlikely situations or people to carry out His rescue.

Lord, I praise and honor you for what you have done and for what you're about to do in my life.  Thank you that you are in control.  Thank you that I can trust you with my dreams and desires you put in my heart to be fulfilled. I give you back all the glory.  In Jesus' mighty name, amen!

Deep In Love With You

After all these years of being a Christian, I never really said I love God the way I would say it now... with so much passion in my heart.

I want to share this song with you by Michael W. Smith. It expresses everything I feel for our Almighty God.

Sitting at Your feet is where I want to be
I'm home when I am here with You
Ruined by Your grace, enamored by Your gaze
I can't resist the tenderness in You

I'm deep in love with You, Abba Father
I'm deep in love with You, Lord
My heart, it beats for You, precious Jesus
I'm deep in love with You Lord

Humbled and amazed that You would call my name
I never have to search again
There's a deep desire that's burning like a fire
To know You as my closest friend

Lord, my redeemer, Your blood runs through my veins
My love for You is deeper than it was yesterday
I enter through the curtain, parted by Your grace
Oh, You're the lover of my soul

Looking Back

Christmas is over and in just a few days, so is 2009.

2009 was a great year for me, better than 2008 I should say. It was a year of supernatural blessings and favors from the Lord.

When people around me kept grumbling on how bad the economy was, honestly, I didn't feel the pressure. God has provided for me supernaturally. I am in awe of how great and mighty God is.

When so many people are accumulating debts just to make both ends meet, God has been so good to have allowed me to pay up more than half of mine. He even allowed and provided for my travel. I was able to purchase stuff I didn't even imagine I could two years ago. I am simply amazed by His goodness. He kept me under His wings.

Truly, I am greatly blessed, highly favored and deeply loved by our Almighty God. In the past, this was just a fact that I know is true; but now, it is a fact that I've experienced and could attest is true.

During Christmas dinner with my sister at her house

2009 was also a year of transformation for me. A summary of what I've gone through in the past years ---

2007 was the year I was broken to tiny pieces. I have redefined pain in ways beyond description.

2008 was the year I was molded by God. I was like being marinated. I struggled. It was agonizing, but I also learned to submit to His will. This was the time I learned to let go and let God in its true sense. By doing so, I got to know Jesus in a whole new way.

Finally, 2009 was the year God transformed me into somebody even I, myself, could hardly recognize. I saw changes in me though I am still a work in progress. God is not done with me yet. But thank God I am no longer where I used to be. I don't even want to ever go back to how I used to be.

This coming 2010, I am full of hope that it will be much better than 2009. I'm believing God for more breakthroughs, favors and blessings. I'm believing God for answered prayers. I'm bolder in asking God what I want because I know He is able. I'm also believing that this coming year is a year of completion and perfection. And I claim this promise ---

"Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in us will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus." Philippians 1:6

Let's all continue to have an attitude of gratitude. Our God is bigger than any mountain we face.

HAVE A BLESSED AND PROSPEROUS
NEW YEAR!!!

Merry Christmas!

Celebrating the Saviour with you.

"Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen." 1 Timothy 1:17

Mighty To Save

I used to hate Holy Week. I really didn't have the understanding back then what Holy Week was all about. All I can remember was I had to be sad because Jesus was dead. We used to go to my grandma's house in the province and stay there almost the entire week watching men whipped themselves and get crucified... yeah, to lessen their sins. That really didn't make sense to me even at a young age.

Thank God that changed!

I thank the Lord Jesus for dying not just for my sins but for my physical and marital healing as well.

I thank God that Jesus is risen. My hope is not in vain because my Lord lives!

My Savior, He can move my mountain... He is mighty to save!

May all of us experience the power of Jesus' resurrection.

Everyone needs compassion,

Love that's never failing;

Let mercy fall on me.

Everyone needs forgiveness,

The kindness of a Saviour;

The Hope of nations.

Saviour, He can move the mountains,

My God is Mighty to save,

He is Mighty to save.

Forever, Author of salvation,

He rose and conquered the grave,

Jesus conquered the grave.

So take me as You find me,

All my fears and failures,

Fill my life again.

I give my life to follow

Everything I believe in,

Now I surrender.

My Saviour, He can move the mountains,

My God is Mighty to save,

He is Mighty to save.

Forever, Author of salvation,

He rose and conquered the grave,

Jesus conquered the grave.

Shine your light and let the whole world see,

We're singing for the glory of the risen King...Jesus (x2)

My Saviour, He can move the mountains,

My God is Mighty to save,

He is Mighty to save.

Forever, Author of salvation,

He rose and conquered the grave,

Jesus conquered the grave.

My Saviour, you can move the mountains,

You are mighty to save,

You are mighty to save.

Forever, Author of Salvation,

You rose and conquered the grave,

Yes you conquered the grave

Merry Christmas!

May your celebration of His birth be filled with joy this Christmas.

"For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord." Luke 2:11