God Reminded Me...

I was again reminded by God to TRUST HIM. He reminded me that He has my life, my future and my family at the palm of His hand. He reminded me that He hears my prayers. He reminded me of how mighty and great my God is. That nothing is impossible with Him. That I can rest in Him knowing that He knows me by name, He knows the desires of my heart and He is my Rewarder.

Then Moses said to him, "If your Presence does not go with us, do not send us up from here. How will anyone know that you are pleased with me and with your people unless you go with us? What else will distinguish me and your people from all the other people on the face of the earth?"

And the LORD said to Moses, "I will do the very thing you have asked, because I am pleased with you and I know you by name."

Exodus 33:15-17 (NIV, emphasis mine)

It's not always easy not to worry. But when it does shows its fangs we should consciously remind ourselves that God is in control. Because He really is.

Thankful Thursday

This week I thank God for:

• His leading. I know I'm on the right track because He confirms it. Thank you, Father, for your guidance.

• Friends. I'm blessed with great friends in church and in the world of blogging. I wouldn't have probably made it this far if it weren't for YOU!

• My (birth) family. I fondly call my mom, dad and siblings that. I'm blessed to have my (birth) family's support in everything I do.

• My husband. He may not be aware of it but he taught me to be strong and to fix my eyes on Jesus now more than ever.
  

• My life. It's not perfect but I love the life God gave me. Here's a picture of myself taken last Tuesday on my birthday.
  

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

Finding Pia

Last Saturday was the end of our first semester and I'm already looking forward to second semester. For some who don't know, I enrolled myself in a leadership training in our church last May. It's a two-year course and I'll be graduating on 2010. It's funny how God "pushed" me into this a few months back. There were three instances in my life that happened just recently when I tried to run away from God's will. And this was one of them. Best illustration I could think of was Jonah. As it turned out, it was one of the best decision I've made in my life. My relationship with God grew deeper.

Many are the plans in a man's heart, but it is the LORD's purpose that prevails." Proverbs 19:21

Also last Saturday, my friends and I were asked to observe how things were being done at Kid's church. Children were calling me "Teacher Pia". I kinda like the sound of that. This too was something I tried to run away from, but guess what, God caught up with me again. See, I firmly believe now that we can try and try to run to Tarshish (our will) until we get tired, but a whale (God's way) will always swallow us up and spit us in Nineveh (God's will). It always happens. I used to wrestle with God a lot, but I never won. Stubborn me!

Anyway, tomorrow is a special day... at least it is for me. It's my birthday!

Thankful Thursday

I missed last week's Thankful Thursday. I'm glad I was able to join in this week.

Last week was like a roller coaster ride for me. One day everything was steady and peaceful, the following day was like hell. My emotion was so erratic that it caused me a great deal of stress. But in spite of my life's jumble, God had been faithful to His promise that He, Himself, will go before me and will be with me; He will never leave me nor forsake me. I need not be afraid; I need not be discouraged (Deuteronomy 31:8). I thank the Lord for friends who left me a message saying they were praying for me.

Today, I'm feeling a lot better and things seem to be stable around me. I thank the Lord for this renewed peace.

I thank the Lord for the little things He allowed me to enjoy like a relaxing whole body massage and a few grocery items both of which were compliments of a friend.

I thank the Lord for my church mates who covered me in prayer and never left me during a spiritual warfare that happened in our house last Monday.

I thank the Lord for His divine provision which helped me make both ends meet. A dear blogger friend blessed me with $75 through my Paypal account with a note that said "just because..." God is truly amazing!

I thank the Lord for my mom's lab test results which were all good.

I thank the Lord Almighty for my life and everything that's happening in it whether good or bad.

With this, I leave you with my heart's prayer (song by Christy Nockels... Hosanna)

Heal my heart and make it clean
Open up my eyes to the things unseen
Show me how to love
Like you have loved me
Break my heart for what breaks yours
Everything I am
For Your kingdom's cause
As I walk from earth into eternity

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

Taking A Bloggy Break