Adventure. Bravery. Courage.

#yesandamen2019

Hope and Strength.

Pain is never a stanger to me. It feels like its the only thing I know in my entire life. That's why I learned to, cherish happiness and joy as a choice. I learned to fight for myself, to be dependent on God alone for salvation and satisfaction and that hope for glory is made available for us. I thought I wonvt be able to experience the freedom from such, but I found peace even in the midst of it. And everyday I fight to set myself free in light of the truth that Jesus had won it already for me.

Breakaway

I'll spread my wings, 

and I'll learn how to fly

Though it's not easy 

to tell you goodbye

I gotta take a risk, 

take a chance, 

make a change

And breakaway

Nakakapagod din pala maging matapang para sa iba. Yung di ka lumalaban kasi naniniwala ka pa. Masakit kapag naiisip mo yung kailangang pagdaanan, pero wala eh, mahal mo, so maspagtitibayin mo ang sarili mo. Bibitaw ka para magpahinga at babalik sa laban para tumulong na umahon sila. At isang minsan napaisip ako, paano naman ako Lord? Sagot Nya: Hawak kita, wag kang mag-aalala. Kung anong meron Ako, meron ka. Hindi pa ba Ako sapat? Samantalang ang mga kapatid mo, desperado pa sa Presensya ko. At sa pag-uwi nila, ipaparamdam ko ang walang hanggan, walang katumbas at walang kapalit na pag-ibig na inalay at ibinigay ko rin sa iyo.

And I'm like 😭😭😭

#praylikeneverbefore

What is this season? What is there for me?

Kapag humihina na pusong lumalaban, ipahinga. Kapag masmatimbang na ang sakit kesa ligaya, bumitaw na. At kapag di na kayang maniwala pa, lumayo na muna.

Then you'll learn to see the beautiful things stored for you.
That you gotta do a favor to yourself, and that is to love, care and treat yourself like how God is for you. 

Who do you say I am? I AM WHO I AM.

Interesting 🤩🤩🤩

WALANG MAWAWALA.

She is clothed in strength and dignity, and she laughs without fear of the future. Proverbs 31:25

Beloved Abe - Walang Mawawala

Mundo mo'y 'di nalilihis

Sa mundo kong marikit

Ang kada araw na sumasapit

Sinasalubong ng nakangiti

Kahit gaano kadilim ang langit

Pagkukubli'y 'di sinasaisip

Ipikit mga mata

Kamay ko'y iyong hawakan

Sa takot ika'y kumawala

At subukang languyin

Ang lalim ng aking pag-ibig

At subukang alamin

Ang pinahihiwatig ng

Pusong nananabik

Ika'y kumawala

'Wag ng mangamba

Walang mawawala

Isip mo'y 'di na bago

Sa mundo kong magulo

Ngunit kung bibigyan ng pagkakataon

Hayaan mo akong

Ipakita sayo ang

Tinatagong ganda nito

Ipikit mga mata

Kamay ko'y iyong hawakan

Sa takot ika'y kumawala

At subukang languyin

Ang lalim ng aking pag-ibig

At subukang alamin

Ang pinahihiwatig ng

Pusong nananabik

Ika'y kumawala

'Wag ng mangamba

Walang mawawala

Tulungan mo akong

Ipakita sa'yo

Ang tunay na anyo

Ng aking mundo

Tawag nya'y pakinggan

Puso'y buksan

Takot ay pakawalan

At subukang languyin

Ang lalim ng aking pag-ibig

At subukang alamin

Ang pinahihiwatig ng

Pusong nananabik

Ika'y kumawala

'Wag ng mangamba

Walang mawawala

God is good in both the giving and the taking away because both are for the sake of our joy in Him.

My God is good. 
My God is good to me.
My God is good at being God. 

To forgive is to set a prisoner free and discover that the prisoner was you.

Once we have forgiven, however, we get a new freedom to forget. This time our forgetting is a sign of health; it is not a trick to forget spiritual surgery. We can forget because we are healed. But even if it's easier to forget after we forgive, we should not make forgetting a test of our forgiving. The test of forgiving lies with the healing of the lingering pain of the past, not with forgetting the past has ever happened. 

God invented forgiving as a remedy for a past that not even he could change and not even he could forget. His way of forgiving is the model for our forgiving. 

quotes by: Lewis Smedes

Verses to ponder:

One thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. - Philippians 3:13-14

Words to remember:

New - Allowing God to change our hearts to change our lives. He transforms by giving us new hearts for Him. 
Remedy - Cure, Solution, Answer
Forgetting - putting something out of our minds; clearing our minds with less important things (because it has no power against us) so we can be free to do what is most important 

Reference: After the Boxes are Unpacked, Susan Miller

It's too much when you're starting to lose yoursef in the process.

C'mon, Rau. Let go. You can do it. He can handle himself; God's got him. Let Lordship mold him. 

Forever was in your eyes the moment I saw you cry.

Letting go means having no room for any reason to be angry at God.

Rest, my love.

Rest, my love
and find yourself
in His loving arms

Beloved,
leave all the past behind
and receive His love

He is the only One
who will never leave
who will never give up
who will never let go

He looks at you
and only you
Inclines His ear
and hears
every whisphered
prayer of your heart

He is calling you out
Calling you back home
To rest in His care
as He sings over you
rejoices in your comeback

And my prayer
Dear One,
that You find Him
incomparible

May He give you
a thousand reasons
to stay by His side
to be satisfied

He loves you
much more than I do
much as anyone will do

I pray that
in your brokenness
you will learn to
yield in His grace
surrender in His love

He is holding you
He will sustain
He will lead

He is good,
my love,
no matter what.

He is right and good
His ways are perfect
He is in control

And if you think
that things
are falling out
and failing

Know that
it is
falling into place
and You are
failing forward

Rest, my love
leave your to cares Him
Rest, dear one
Let Him be the One

The One to deliver
The One to save
The One to rescue
The One to give

Rest, my love.
Find your utmost
delight in Him
who loves you
chose you,
honors you,
and gave it all
for you.

No more condemnation.
No more lies and death.
No more bad and sad days.

He has come
for you
He is waiting
Come home
Rest, His love.

How many times do you have to forgive? AS MUCH AS IT IS NEEDED.

And He giveth again and again. And again. 

Breaking a beloved's heart.

Wag ka mag-alala. Pinaglalaban ka nun. :)

Everything is sinking... and it's getting harder to breathe... and believe.

As for me, the greatest expression of love is setting someone free. It's the saddest story but a lovely one. To let go because God loves you both to save your souls more than your heart. To let go because you love much, and you know they deserve all the best and happiness in this world. And to let go, because you were just meant to pass by in the story. But it's not a bad thing though. Painful, might be. But you see, only love could count the cost; for loving is dying and denying yourself just to serve others. And isn't it amazing that you could love like that?

Just a few more days, 
these eyes will dry up and
this heart will not be sick

It's gonna be fine 
He's gonna be fine 
You'll be fine letting go

Let go
Let God
It is well, my soul

x x Sometimes, God breaks our hearts to save our souls. x x

I let go of all I have just to have all of You. And no matter what the cost, I will follow You. Jesus, everything I've lost I have found in You. WHEN I FINALLY REACH THE END I'LL SAY, YOU ARE WORTH IT ALL.

Let it slip away from my hands, Lord.

Iiyak ako pero papatawarin kita.

It's the end of the story.

May hinihintay ka lang palang bumalik. (:

Someday, Rau. Someday.

He's gonna be fine. He's not alone, He's with God. And trust your relationships; all will be alright in time.

Overwhelmed by His protection... 'Cause I'm His beloved... He will take whatever it is that might take me away from Him... Yet I know this is for my good... He knows what's best for me... I trust Him... I will trust in Him... He's a good, good Father after all.

Home.

I will know. Because the God in me speaks to the God in you.

Nagiisang tiyak sa isang libong duda.

Whatever gets your mind gets you.

“Distance makes the heart grow fonder and presence puts the heart in danger.”

I've never received loved from anyone. Not because they were not giving, but I was not accepting. I was afraid to receive and accept. But now, somehow, it makes sense. Those days I was breaking and nights full of tears. I did not understand, but I continually chose to surrender. It was painful to yield every time but He was worth it. And I know He was making a way in the deserts. He was making me human. He was making Himself bigger, wider and deeper in all sense. His love manifested in His creation and people, it was beautiful. Definitely not perfect but very beautiful.

Indeed, when He speaks it overwhelms.
When He loves, He overtakes the soul.
Nothing compares to Your love, Lord!

When the world tells you to measure up, know that: YOU ARE ENOUGH. Remember, there's nothing you can do to make Him love you more. He loves you just as you are. There's no need to strive, all the more compare. He loves you even in your mess, faithlessness and weakness. Don't be insecure, there's nothing to prove to anyone. Be still. Enjoy your company and growth with Him. You are listening. You are obeying. You weighed the cost and followed Him. You are moving in His will.

Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith—that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead. (Philippians 3:8-10 ESV)

"Oh the fears of the past are slowly fading away, because through it all you chose to stay. "

quote by: Moira dela Torre

To my infinite possibilities...

Malayo man ang distansya
Di man marinig ang boses mong aking nakasanayan
Pipikit nalang muna
At papagalingin ang mga mata sa kaluluha

At hihinga ng malalim
At papakalmahin ang patalim
Tapos na ang laban

Isusuko na ang sandata aatras na sa laban
Di dahil naduduwag kundi dahil mahal kita
Mahirap nang labanan mga espada ng orasan
Kung pipilitin pa, lalo lang masasaktan

Mangangarap hanggang sa pagbalik
Mangangarap pa rin kahit masakit

At sa pagbawi ng tadhana
Masakit man magpalaya
Doon ako kung san ka sasaya
Kung san ka malaya


Disclaimer: This is Moira's thing.

Know that in the waiting, silence and stillness, God is working.

Surrender and Obedience to the next level. 

I lied.

Last night, I got a chance to dine with some of my campus missionary friends. Funny how they were just so human before my eyes. Leaders they may be in front of the many, tough and firm, amazing in their calling. But they amaze me more in their vulnerability.

Anyway, I was not really in a hotseat but it was liberating to entertain questions that I have in mind. I have answers but they were locked behind my mind and hidden at the back of my heart. Then last night, I just realized how necessary it was to talk about it. Not to be superficial about the process but embracing the fact that I am a human. And feelings are gifts.

I was taken aback (just a little, because I'm always on guard, I know how cunning they can be sometimes, so yeah) with their questions...

1) May nanliligaw? Paparamdam? 
2) Sino type mo sa center?
3) Anong qualities hanap mo or yung non-negotiables mo?
4) What if may mag-lay down sayo, tatlo, how would you know (or choose) ?
5) Changes that happened after the 10 days mission trip? 

For the first 3 questions, we were laughing inside the car. One side-commented over the first question, "May nagpaparamdam. Hanggang paramdam lang. Para naa lang may spark." Then I thought, really? As much I don't want to call it to mind, there it was. Pero ba't wala akong nararamdaman? Chos! Hahaha. I guess I should never turn a blind eye to it anymore... Going back, it was cool actually to hear yourself answer these, but of course, I still have to hold back because I have things that I want to see God work on... Something between we only know... I don't know if its alright but I don't want human hands on this very important story of my life... And it's my confirmation that he's the Adam God has awakened for the great co-mission. 

By the way, question no. 4? Disclaimer. Hahahaha. I don't know if its true. If I recall it right, I used the term feasible to validate the quantity in the question... This is just in my mind tho, I was in quiet thought when the question came out. And I just said what the first thought in my mind, "The yes and amen ni Lord." Then another side comment, "Actually, ang ginamean ni Rau, kahit man lang sana may maglay down sa tatlong yan. Yes and amen!" BOOM! Attagirl! Hahahaha. I was caught off guard, but yeah, why not. Let's see what next right after things happen.

But really what got me that night were. These questions:
6) What's your aspiration?
7) What's your dream? That something that are asking  or you would like to ask God , knowing that He's our good, good Father... Just like a child, whatever it may be?

For the aspiration part, I wanted to have a car. A runaway car when pressure comes.
Then for the dream... Actually I don't have. And that's something I'm still asking God of. I thought I was a malfunctioning christian when I realize I don't have a dream. Then I see God paving the way for other's dream to come true. That made me stuck for a while, honestly. But under some circumstances, there's this desire that has birthed in me. 

To love unconditionally, to be a suitable partner, to be a testimony to those who lost their faith in marriages and families. That when God is in the beginning, midst and in the process of relationship, nothing fails.

I don't know if that's a legit dream but somehow that's all I had just realized over September. I know it's still a long way to confirm and there's still a lot to discover. But I'm confident that God will protect and strengthen me. He is for me and not against me, my safe refuge and fortess after all.

And to end this, I'll leave this secret here: 
Hi. I'm excited to meet you. I hope you're the same. I just realized that we've got a few lifetime left and I just want you to know that I want to spend it with you. To taste and see God's goodness, know Him and enjoy Him more than ever,  together (and in God's grace, with our little God-loving generations), I think it's one of God's beautiful gift for mankind in its fullness. So yeah, I hope to see you somewhere. In His will, at the right time. Don't give up, continue to choose God. Praying for you, always. 🌼🌼🌼

If you happen to have to choose, choose God.

Epic for a first time!

Watched the wrong movie 'cause I waited, thought it's an hour or so advertisement...

I was really frustrated inside the movie house... So imagine how much more when I got to realize I was in the wrong cinema... I didn' t finish the movie. It was about to end, it was about a dog-hooman relationship, but I just can't finish it anymore.

But it was kind'a funny tho, to realize how I can be stupid for the attempt to be alone... Haha. Better luck next time, Rau. 

Lesson learned: You're not meant to be alone. 🌼

Thanks for the broken heart. I just realized how of only a human I am.

You've been warned. #tagam

It's not my job to make [you] a man. - Astrid

Spring forth thy new love.

It's not gonna happen again.

You're not gonna let it happen again.

You are doing the right thing,

for you understand it well.

It's going to be long and painful,

but it's gonna be worth it.

It has been like that, always;

beautiful things in its own time.

No, it won't happen again.

You've learned your lesson,

and know you know your worth.

You're not taken for granted,

you are well kept.

Continue to stand your ground.

Someday, someone will show you

how precious you are in their pursuit.

Don't worry, the past is in the past.

It has no power to you anymore.

Neither the taunting fear of the unknown,

it shall sting yet you will still sing.

One day, that new love will appear,

and you will be courageous to face fear,

as if spring has not known the unknown.

But more than anything else, put God's work first and do what he wants. Then the other things will be yours as well. (Matthew 6:33 CEV)

He has set the right time for everything. - Ecclesiastes 3:11, Good News Bible

Is it good? Is it wise? Will it honor God?

Even if it's not going to be okay, you'll be okay. Let it be, for whatever will be, will be. #Shema

Better is open rebuke than hidden love. Faithful are the wounds of a friend; profuse are the kisses of an enemy. (Proverbs 27:5-6)

Find a Friend to Wound You

Faithful Are the Wounds of a Friend

Faithful Friends Will Wound You

And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. (Philippians 4:8 NLT)

This has been calling me out for sometime. :)

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.

There will be days when you don't seem to understand
Days that seems cloudy and don't make sense
There will be days when you don't know how to live
Days that seem you don't know what to believe

August Rush

Over the week, God has been expressing His comfort to me unfailingly.

Monday: Fight the good fight of the faith.
Tuesday: He is sovereign. In whatever season, He is God.
Wednesday: Where sin abounds, grace abounds all the more.
Thursday: Pray fervently. The battle is not of the flesh but in the spirit.
Friday: Everything (everyone) has its own season. All for God's glory.
Saturday: Guilt and Shame. Mercy & Forgivess. 

Counting the cost of forgiving and granting grace requires so much... So much brokenness... So much selflessness... Mercy that is beyond my capacity... And unconditional love I hardly understand...

This season is not like any other season. Right now, I completely feel like a shaft tossed wherever the wind blows. I only know God's voice within and nothing else. My emotions don't matter for some reason; I am led and silenced. At times fear and anxiety creeps in but I am held to do things anyway; I am led and silenced. I understand everything and it breaks my heart to know I can't do anything to fix anything; but I am led and silenced. 

Forgiving does not erase the bitter past. A healed memory is not a deleted memory. Instead, forgiving what we cannot forget creates a new way to remember. We change the memory of our past into a hope for our future.

Lewis Smedes

He's here. Again.

Where sin abounds, grace abounds all the more.

It costs much, it requires so much 
But love will take risk and all that there is
His mercy will sustain the needed grace
For God is still in the business of changing lives

I have seen, tasted and am confident
That what God has accomplished to me
Is not far impossible He can be to others
Hope in God for I shall praise Him

God created man to reflect Him, not to rival Him.

Let go,
let God
Remember,

God is good
Good is good at me
God is good at being God

He is sovereign
He is in control
He is faithful

He saves
He provides
He satisfies

He is everlasting
He is steadfast
He is unchanging

He is all that
man is not
Because HE IS

the Great I AM
a good Father
a good friend

for you
for me
not against 

Jesus looks at you
Jesus feels you
Jesus knows it all

Grace in His words
Mercy in His eyes
Love in His hands

He pursues you
He found you
He keeps you

So stop chasing
Stop striving
Stop 

Rest in His, "Tetelestai"
No more, no less
It is finished

'til there's none.

Curiosity killed the cat.

I believe in you.

Hi there,

Whoever you may be. I just want to tell you that there's someone out there who believes in you, praying for you - a family,  a friend, a lover.

Believe in yourself, beloved.

The things you did, do and will do will bring you where you're supposed to be. In His very time, your season will come. Believe that there's something stored for you because you have a purpose to fulfill, not by your might but by His providence. More than willing and able, He has graced you to prosper and have the future you hope for.

I believe in you, beloved.

No, don't give up. Even when your circumstances say you have nothing to believe in. Hope in God, for you shall praise Him! He saved you to experience the fullness of His salvation. He redeemed you to make you taste and see His goodness. You are seen, therefore we shall believe. There is nothing hidden from him, my love. Your fears and tears, he saw it all. He knows it all. 

Nothing is broken, nothing is missing. You are held. You are well-kept. Continue to hold fast to the confession of your faith, for He who promised is faithful. Christ's sacrifice once withholds nothing but His loving kindness and mercy.

Have faith, courageous one.
Know that I am believing alongside you.

Eve, be faithful. Continue to stand your ground beside God and wait for Adam to wake up.

"The Lord is my strength and my song, and he has become my salvation; this is my God, and I will praise him, my father's God, and I will exalt him." -Exodus 15:2

What can I say? What can I do? But offer this heart, O God, completely to You.

I'll stand with arms high and heart abandoned
In awe of the One who gave it all
I'll stand, my soul, Lord to You I surrender
All I am is Yours

Iyq

...and for the first time in your life, you'll believe it.

Hoping that in this season, may we all grow, apart from each other, but always in the Lord. I'll always keep you in my prayers.

Yet God has made everything beautiful for its own time. (Ecc. 3:11 NLT)

To all my friends
To you who followed God's voice
To go or not to go

Persist and pursue
Fight the good fight of faith
Choose Jesus, always

:)

You should not marry a man without vision. The man leads you. He should lead. Remember a man without vision perishes.

And a woman is a helper for the work, not the job, of the man. Not to compete, but the compliment for God's mission.

If ever I should lose my way, if ever I deny Your grace. Remind me of the price You paid. Hallelujah. I'll live in remembrance.

Hands-off.

Psalm 51

Broken to be a Blessing
Brokenness to Wholeness
Broken for a Higher Purpose

Because you're under authority, submit.

"I am saying this for your benefit, not to place restrictions on you. I want you to do whatever will help you serve the Lord best, with as few distractions as possible." 1 Corinthians 7:35 NLT

Accountability requires honesty and transparency.
Boundaries give rest to the soul.
Conviction is a resolution for an undivided devotion.
Dying to ourselves is the only way to have His way.

STAY AND WAIT.

"Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit." John 12:24

Dying to oneself...
Deny yourself...
You are no longer yourself...
You belong to Christ...

And it is, now, Christ who lives in you.
Live a life worthy of Christ's calling.
Walk in step with the Spirit
That you will not gratify the flesh.

Courage, dear heart.
Flee. Away.
Let God.

Love is war.

'til You're the one that I desire.

I will fight to follow
I will fight for love
Throw my life forever
To the triumph of the Son

[turning] 26

Reality will break your heart

Survival will not be the hardest part

It's keeping all your hopes alive

When all the rest of you has died

So let it break your heart

Hold onto hope if you got it

Don't let it go for nobody

And they say that dreaming is free

But I wouldn't care what it cost me

You are perfect in all of Your ways!

She said,

I'm holding on to you 

And I won't let go

You're the one that I can't loose

And I won't let go

You're the only thing that's true  

In this whole world of black eyed blues  

And disillusioned points of view 

And I won't let go

The pain feels like a knife 

But I'm not giving up on life

That was painful, yet still, Your will be done.

Believing that I will have my "after this".
Believing that this is not in vain.
Believing that God is still good no matter what.
Believing that God is still in control.
Believing that the team will be okay.
Believing that they are healed inside-out.
Believing that His will is still good, pleasing and  perfect.
Believing that His perfect love casts out the fear.
Believing that He restores and redeems the lost and broken.

Declaring for more of You in our lives!

The gravity of our surrender determines the degree we want God in our lives.

Make room: He must increase, I must decrease.

This I know: You are a Great God!

“Mark tells us that during the storm Jesus ‘saw his followers struggling’ (Mark 6:48). Through the night he saw them. Through the storm he saw them. And like a loving father he waited. He waited until the right time, until the right moment. He waited until he knew it was time to come, and then he came.
What made it the right time? I don’t know. Why was the ninth hour better than the fourth or fifth? I can’t answer that. Why does God wait until the money is gone? Why does he wait until the sickness has lingered? Why does he choose to wait until the other side of the grave to answer the prayers for healing?

I don’t know. I only know his timing is always right. I can only say he will do what is best. ‘God will always give what is right to his people who cry to him night and day, and he will not be slow to answer them’ (Luke 18:7).
Though you hear nothing, he is speaking. Though you see nothing, he is acting. With God there are no accidents. Every incident is intended to bring us closer to him.”

– MAX LUCADO, A Gentle Thunder

To be who God wants me to be. To do what God wants me to do. To hear God say, "Well done my good and faithful servant. Enter into the Joy of your Master." To be with God forever.

Walk in the Spirit (Galatians 5 AMP ver.)

1 It was for this freedom that Christ set us free [completely liberating us]; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery [which you once removed].

2 Notice, it is I, Paul, who tells you that if you receive circumcision [as a supposed requirement of salvation], Christ will be of no benefit to you [for you will lack the faith in Christ that is necessary for salvation]. 3 Once more I solemnly affirm to every man who receives circumcision [as a supposed requirement of salvation], that he is under obligation and required to keep the whole Law. 4 You have been severed from Christ, if you seek to be [a]justified [that is, declared free of the guilt of sin and its penalty, and placed in right standing with God] through the Law; you have fallen from grace [for you have lost your grasp on God’s unmerited favor and blessing]. 5 For we [not relying on the Law but] through the [strength and power of the Holy] Spirit, by faith, are waiting [confidently] for the hope of righteousness [the completion of our salvation]. 6 For [if we are] in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything, but only faith activated and expressed and working through love.

7 You were running [the race] well; who has interfered and prevented you from obeying the truth? 8 This [deceptive] persuasion is not from Him who called you [to freedom in Christ]. 9 A little [b]leaven [a slight inclination to error, or a few false teachers] leavens the whole batch [it perverts the concept of faith and misleads the church]. 10 I have confidence in you in the Lord that you will adopt no other view [contrary to mine on the matter]; but the one who is disturbing you, whoever he is, will have to bear the penalty. 11 But as for me, [c]brothers, if I am still preaching circumcision [as I had done before I met Christ; and as [d]some accuse me of doing now, as necessary for salvation], why am I still being persecuted [by Jews]? In that case the stumbling block of the cross [to unbelieving Jews] has been abolished. 12 I wish that those who are troubling you [by teaching that circumcision is necessary for salvation] would even [go all the way and] castrate themselves!

13 For you, my brothers, were called to freedom; only do not let your freedom become an opportunity for the [e]sinful nature (worldliness, selfishness), but through [f]love serve and seek the best for one another. 14 For the whole Law [concerning human relationships] is fulfilled in one precept, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself [that is, you shall have an unselfish concern for others and do things for their benefit].” 15 But if you bite and devour one another [in bickering and strife], watch out that you [along with your entire fellowship] are not consumed by one another.

16 But I say, walk habitually in the [Holy] Spirit [seek Him and be responsive to His guidance], and then you will certainly not carry out the desire of the [g]sinful nature [which responds impulsively without regard for God and His precepts]. 17 For the sinful nature has its desire which is opposed to the Spirit, and the [desire of the] Spirit opposes the [h]sinful nature; for these [two, the sinful nature and the Spirit] are in direct opposition to each other [continually in conflict], so that you [as believers] do not [always] do whatever [good things] you want to do. 18 But if you are guided and led by the Spirit, you are not subject to the Law. 19 Now the practices of the [i]sinful nature are clearly evident: they are sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality (total irresponsibility, lack of self-control), 20 [j]idolatry, [k]sorcery, hostility, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions [that promote heresies], 21 envy, drunkenness, riotous behavior, and other things like these. I warn you beforehand, just as I did previously, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. 22 But the fruit of the Spirit [the result of His presence within us] is love [unselfish concern for others], joy, [inner] peace, patience [not the ability to wait, but how we act while waiting], kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24 And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the [l]sinful nature together with its passions and appetites.

25 If we [claim to] live by the [Holy] Spirit, we must also walk by the Spirit [with personal integrity, godly character, and moral courage—our conduct empowered by the Holy Spirit]. 26 We must not become conceited, challenging or provoking one another, envying one another.

When we do what God asks from us, time becomes our ally.

Be still, He is God.

Obedience doesn't always denotes action 

At times, it's a heart fully surrendered to Him
Yielded wills; all the time choosing Him
In total abandon to His known goodness
Silenced by His love - at knees and tears

Confusion
Rebellion
Doubts
Fears

These things may find me in some idle
But I will still find my way Home
I know because His Spirit now lives in me
My soul anchored, in Him, firm and secured

And my soul shall praise Him in the morning
My being will worship Him in the night
Forever, I will want to find myself in Him
He is and always God, no matter what

And with eyes shut against my rebellion,
thoughts captured in obedience to Christ,
His loving kindness will cover and overflow -
My crown in this race, my source of obedience

Run the race, set before you, well. It's gonna be fine. It's always hard to begin, but you'll make it. Be of good courage, the Lord is with you; His eyes are ever on you. The good and bad means nothing to the One who has purposed you into what He has for you. Continue to choose God; continue to obey. This is not a race of sprint, but a race of endurance. Victory does not belong to the one who finished first, but to the one who kept the flame burning until the very end. And by then, you will look back and see, that you have started strong - you never gave up - and have finished stronger.

I know my season will come.

Bless the Lord, O my soul. O my soul, worship His holy name! Sing like never before, O my soul. I worship Your holy name~

10,000 reasons for my heart to sing. 
Weeping may stay for the night,
but rejoicing comes in the morning. 

😭😭😭

Obscurity refocuses our eyes to what really matters; It sorts chaotic thoughts, clears clogged perspective and defies the norm. Obscurity makes you listen to the One, who has been speaking all this time; Shemah, to listen and obey.

Never wanted grace like this, before.
I just want to go home afterwards.

How wretched I am inside-out.
I drain my energy to things nonexistent.

Another impossible case.
I hope to pass this test.

Bold. Courageous. Stronger.
Wiser. Steadfast. Zealous.

Father, if you are willing,
take this cup away from me.

Yet I want you will be done,
not mine.

Deep calls unto deep.

#yieldedwills

Foolish heart, heed my warning. Stop before you start falling.

Ngano man ka Ate Nina? Hahaha. 

You've been wrong before~

Conserve energy; Choose your battles wisely.

C'mon, c'mon!

Honor God.

Honor the person by self-control.
He's one of God's best example.
Don't take over, nor manipulate.
He's one of the Lord's finest. 

Don't distract. 
Don't take 
what's God's role 
in His life.
You wouldn't want.
And you must not.

God first. :)

Heartbreaks humble a world.

A right heart comes with a sound mind.

It's amazing how "Thank you" is the second statement in this world that makes me cry.

When you realize the things you don't deserve.
Thank you, Jesus!

Days like these, I wanna fall in love with you. Not because I'm lonely but because you're beautiful. Days like these, I want to be by your side to tell you: You're one of the best of this world! I want to stare at you, and just let myself fall in love, with no hold backs. No what-ifs. No fear. I wanted to see how God will unfold Himself in the story of two differently alienated people who found themselves at the foot of the cross. The kind of love story that makes you fall in love, not because of their compatibility and sweet chemistry. But because you see how God uses their story to speak Himself true, beautiful and glorious.

The longing is aching, but waiting in the Lord is stronger. 

But really He always knew what this process was going to look like; I just had to learn how to trust deeply, with my eyes shut at times when I didn’t understand. (@tayasmith)

“I do love You, You know that I love You. Oh, forgive me because I can’t help my tears. I will go down with You into the wilderness, right away from the promise, if You really wish it. Even if You cannot tell me why it has to be, I will go with You, for You know I do love You, and You have the right to choose for me anything that You please.” 

“ There Much-Afraid built her first altar on the mountains, a little pile of broken rocks, and then, with the Shepherd standing close beside her, she laid down on the altar her trembling, rebelling will.”

“in an instant nothing but a heap of ashes was lying on the altar. That is to say, she thought at first there were only ashes, but the Shepherd told her to look closer, and there among the ashes she saw a little stone of some kind...

“Pick it up and take it with you,” said the Shepherd gently, “as a memorial of this altar which you built, and all that it stands for.”

“Much-Afraid took the stone out of the ashes, scarcely looking at it and feeling that to her life’s end she would never need a reminder of that altar, for how could she ever forget it or the anguish of that first surrender, but she dropped the pebble into a little purse or bag which the Shepherd gave her and put it away carefully “

“As she started down the path He began a song which Much-Afraid had not heard before, and it sounded so sweet and comforting that her pain began to melt away. It was as though the song suggested to her a part at least of the reason for this strange postponement of all her hopes. This is the song He sang:

“THE CLOSED GARDEN

A garden closed art thou, my love,

Where none thy fruits can taste,

A spring shut up, a fountain sealed,

An orchard run to waste.

Awake, north wind! And come, thou south!

Blow on my garden fair,

That all the spices may flow out As perfume on the air"

- Hinds Feet on High Places

Take Courage today - For even better than your best is His good.

Im all in Jesus 😭🙌 

Repost from Taya Smith's Instagram.

Ate Roselle

Ate, I thank God for you.
I thank God for choosing you to be my ate, discipler, mentor, and friend. I thank God because you don’t sugarcoat things; you know I just need Jesus most. Thank you for not always being at my side, whether it’s circumstantial or not. Thank you for not entertaining my overthinking… Thank you for not insisting anything, it made me learn to decide in dependence to God. Thank you for not talking (not literally ha, haha) at times I just needed Your presence. Thank you for always laughing out things.Thank you for smiling even if times were hard and tough. Thank you for you wisdom, know that it is well-hidden. Thank you for opening your life and world to me. You were the love-person God gave me despite me.Your gentle, soft answer (bisan strong na gud) breaks the strong in me.  You were someone I never thought I could have;one of those very persons I don’t deserve (especially when I think about my shortcomings). And in my obsession to always do the right thing,you always come like God’s grace to me.

This is not goodbye.

Love lots,Rau :)

She's going to be in Thailand after a few more days. She's going to work there and who knows if she's gonna stay there for good. I'm gonna lose a great ate in her, and I'll be sad. She's one of those who knows me inside and out. In her silent stares and laughter, I've seen life.

Knowing her, she'll do well. 
But knowing our God, she'll thrive there.

Tagu-taguan...

You have no rival. You're enough. :)

Repentance: Every step away from God there's somebody patting your back that it's okay, that what you're doing is okay and that you're going far away from God...then one day you decide to turn back and realize God is just right there. You were never far.

I take one step away, and I found myself coming back to You~ 😭😍👊

That voice.

"In your season of waiting, grow together alone."

Don't play with fire.

When you decide, consider the end-goal.

A special message for you, Beloved.

Hindi pwede ma attach kung di naman nag lay down ng intention 😁 bahala na paasa pa kaayo silang tanan. Importante wise ang kababaihan 😁 (Saquin, 2017)

*deep sigh

Light will guide you home and ignite your bones~

It's easier to let go when you keep in mind there's nothing in this world that is yours.

You never really love someone until you learn to forgive. (Lord 😭😭😭)

Lost and Insecure, You found me.

Let me sing of Your glory.

It was a good cry.

Pursue Her: A Message To Christian Men | @whatisjoedoing @chaseGodtv

How Do You Know Someone Is "The One"? || Jefferson Bethke

When life sings in the big screen.

Last night, I watched this amazing movie The Greatest Showman with awesome friends. Initially, I tried to condition myself by listening to the OST and some behind the scenes of the movie, but it was still breathtaking.

However big, however small, let me be part of it all. Share your dreams with me. You may be right, you may be wrong, but say that you'll bring me along to the world you see. To the world I close my eyes to see. (A Million Dreams)

When Charity sang this part, it was so loud and clear to me. It gave me then a clear platform that for every man wild at heart is a captivating woman who would like to be with him in his adventures. And even though the stage was never about Charity, her responses were touching me. I wanted to be someone like her... for PT Barnum. (So yeah, happy valentines! haha)
 
And you know that feeling that you wanna re-watch the movie and really digest the insights of life from it. The transitions, it will make you feel that it's okay in the waiting. And in the phase of misfortune, hope always paves it way to us. From the voices of the little children, from the ones we love, from the dreams we have when we were still young.

If there's a will, there's a way. This is where the sweetest of life's irony is birthed. From all of our hurts and disappointments we are being built, equipped and launched for the better. Resiliency. This is how we face life, and that is from glory to glory.

PT Barnum might be creating a faux characters but it made every imagination come alive. He owned what he used to be. Despised by the society, he created a family. They were rejected because they were different, but they became glorious because of their uniqueness. 

The issues in the movie were never new. But it was so encouraging and firm in its purpose. It also reminded me that in this life, you will meet a lot of people but only a few will remain to be steadfast.

Faith. Hope. Love. This movie is all about these words. How it all intertwined and re-named all the fall-backs, consequences and downfalls into forgiveness, courage, and strength for the grandest theater ever - life.

Happy Independence Month!

"Yung alam mo yun, gusto na nila ang isa't isa (#drewda) but they still choose God." (Saquin, 2018)

You don't decide. You Obey. (Saquin, 2018)

I was dying inside to hold you, but I couldn't bring myself to touch youuu~

Happy New Year!