TORO - 2013 (Time Out Reach Out)

It's been a month now since we have this wonderful, spirit-filled, and amazing experience with my spiritual family. I can say that this is one of the most memorable experience that I have during my stay here at SG. It was my first time joining this kind of event. A highlight one for this year. 

Last April 27 - May 1 2013, we went to Bantayan Island Cebu Philippines,to blessed the children of Sta. Fe School. We're almost 50 volunteers. At first, I was just thinking that it was just an ordinary days, visiting the children and giving them some goodies&donations but it turned out to be an extra-ordinary one with lots of surprises.

I was really amazed on how God moved on that event!:-) Imagine a 6 months preparation only and we are all based here at SG going to one of the province in the Philippines, wow, thumbs-up to all the committees, they did a great job in organizing. 50 volunteers in four nights and five days at Cebu!:-) All hardworks are worth it! Truly it was really by God's grace that we were able to do it. The program was so smooth and it goes out naturally, as the spirit leads. Everyone gave their 100% effort in every activities, from simple to the most greater tasks as if we are all having fun and just enjoying the moment, never mind of any inconvenience contrary to the comfort that SG gave, it was totally different there. I gained a lot friends! genuine, Christ-centered friendships. All skills and talents are used for the Glory of God. Even I, myself was amazed how God used me, it was my first time to join the p&w team here at SG, and, it's not really my nature to show or speak up to a lot of people but God gave me confidence!:-) and in all activities we had. Thank you God without You I am nothing. The PLACE and The FOOD wow!:-) it was really exceptional. A wonderful place to rest within, having the resort, the beach, and the food we have there, free from any wordly stress. So relaxing! speechless!:-) amazing God. We have so much fun! so much of memories and so much of friends!-) and I can only thank God for allowing me to experience His Greatness through this event.

And finally!:-) of course the highlight of the event was the impart-ation and meeting up with the kids!:-) They are so precious in the eyes of God. I am so blessed and honored to have met them. Seeing them striving harder just to learn and study in school despite of what they only have. Imagine a small rooms, so hot, no enough resources, no lights, etc. and they can sustain that, wow! God you are so compassionate. I was rebuked of complaining a lot of things in my life and yet these little children don't have enough but only the Love of God with a hopeful heart that someday all of their dreams will come true.

We are so much glad that we became part of their life even for just a simple ways. We teached them, played with them, gave them some, painted their rooms and entertained them. Their smiles are priceless, seeing them happy is enough for the volunteers to pursue even if it's tiring, but nothing can stop us!:-) so wonderful. We knew that what we did were just simple in the eyes of the others but I know in the eyes of God we have planted already the seed that will surely bloom in the coming days or years. A new generaton awaits for these little children to arise and so we are so proud that someday when they reached that years, we, somehow became part of their success in life most especially in the growth of their personal relationship with Christ. 

"Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these." - Mark 10:14

"Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain." - 1 Corinthians 15:58

Thank You Lord for making all things possible! Truly You alone deserve all Glory!:-)

Miracle Working God

God You are so amazing!:-) You continue to amazed me that I can't even imagine how deep, how wide, how big, Your love and Your grace is! It just overwhelmed me and can't contain with Your overflowing greatness and faithfulness. 

A testimony of a miracle working God. I just wanna share it because it is worth sharing for and He deserves to be glorified!:-)

Two weeks ago, I've been to an event that really awakens me and I should say, an enlightenment also of God's magnificent power. It's an outreach activity for children in the province of Cebu in the Philippines. An eye opener also because I've learned a lot on that trip. Well it's a separate blog post though there's a million of things that I can shared of regarding that event!:-) But this post will focus on 'after the event'.

So after the event my spirit was so filled with, satisfied and overwhelmed, and I'm amazed of the strength that God is giving me, it's really by His grace that I can do all these things. But of course, I knew that my flesh, still, has a limitations, and it gets weak after that, maybe because of the tiredness and non-stop functioning of my body, do this and do that. Work, the next two working days and household chores on weekends. (do my laundry, cleaning my room etc.) whew!:-) I got cough and cold after the event.

And then Saturday eve came, I went to a fellowship with my sisters, I was tired then but I still pursue because I wanted to share so many things with them about the event. So afterwards we go on swimming but I can feel the pain at my back, and I knew it because I've experience it before. It is really my lungs that gets weak, on the left side of it. After half an hour, I coughed and spit on the floor outside the pool and I saw the blood on my sputum. I did it again in a lighter side where there is light and it's real there is. I cough many times and confirmed that there is blood in my sputum. I called my friend in a comfort room and she saw it in her very own eyes, more blood than sputum. I got scared! feared and worried! My friend prayed for me immediately. Three of them knew it and they prayed for me! 

I admit, I felt some fears, so many lies came up to my mind, I felt so worried of myself, my family and my future. So many 'what ifs'. But God is soo Good that I have these friends that really shared with me that nothing to be worried of. We started praying and praying even the next day, I received a lot of encouragements from them and all of a sudden amazing! my fear has gone!:-) and that's what prayers can do.

I was enlightened by the truth that God do really Heals! He is my Healer and He proves it many times in the bible. God is not a God of punishment, just because I didn't take care of myself or abuse myself that's why He gave that sickness! NO! sickness is not from God it is from the enemy. Jesus Christ has done it 2000 years ago, took away all our sins, pains, sickness because He loves us so much that no matter who we are, He still embraced us simply because He is God and not because of who we are or what we did. God never condemns and He wants me to be healed and so I should forgive myself and not so be hardened of it. God should be the one that is magnified and not my faults. It's a renewing of my mind that I should keep my eyes more on God's healing power rather than blaming myself. Whatever I do no matter how hard I try to understand the situation I won't because I focus more on Me Myself and I. I was so blinded that I forgot to see the other side, that awaits me of an Amazing Grace where you can rest upon with!:-) He is so gentle and the loving-kindness brings peace into my heart. Yes I was really enlightened that day, Sunday!:-) and I told God that Lord no-matter what, I will still continue to serve you because I knew that you deserved my service even at the cost of this.

Wow amazing! it is so comforting, peace was all over me, I never get worried and continue to focus my mind on God's healing power!:-) I prayed a lot and my friends prayed a lot for me. Then Monday came, again I was really overwhelmed, I didn't take any medicine yet, I woke up in the morning and my pain at my back/lungs was all gone. I was really amazed! That very moment I knew that I am healed! I shared it with them.

But then, though I am healed, I continue to do a checkup because I want it to be a testimony to all. I went to a doctor Monday night and the doctor asked me to have some x-ray so we can make sure of it. I did x-ray on Tuesday accompanied by my good friend in the office (I'm so blessed of her too!). I don't have any fears already, I continue to do the things I used to do, of course for the Glory of God. And finally yesterday(a week after), I got the result from my doctor. Before I enter the room and talked to him, I prayed and claimed the healing and no single lie from the enemy I entertained!:-) 

As the doctor told me, he was also amazed that he can't resist to thank and praise God!:-) wow amazing God!:-) The result was normal, he confirmed to me that I didn't have any sickness, I am healthy and my weight never lost!:-)

Amazing Grace!:-) I thank God for all these things and to my friends who prayed for me, support me and accompanied me!:-) Truly if we seek first His kingdom, all these things will be given unto us. Our labor in God would not be in vain. If we do things for Him surely He will never leaves us nor forsake us.

"your faith has healed you." - Mark 10:52

"But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well." - Matthew 6:33

"He who has found his life will lose it, and he who has lost his life for My sake will find it." - Matthew 10:39

I may be weak, but

Your Spirit's strong in me.

My flesh may fail, but

My God You never will. - Song - Give me Faith