Back to Work

What am I doing 4AM in the morning? I'm back at work. I'm doing US outsource projects again. It's been almost 2 years (Nov '05) since I left the company where I worked. Now I'm back. Why? Well, many things. I have been struggling and praying for a go these past few weeks if I revive my flash artist profession. Ministry has been very fruitful and the need is huge. But I gotta take care of some things especially my family. My funds are running out and I'm lagging with my contributions in the house bills. Something that really convinced me to return was just this week, my mom, dad and I went to the hospital to get checked up. I had recurring flu which was getting worse everyday. My dad had this lump on his back that after diagnosis, the doctor declared it was an early stage of tumor. Now the doctor reassured us that it is not a serious thing, as long as it's removed ASAP before it becomes infected, but hearing those words really shook me up. I mean that was my dad. Anyway, he's going under operation today for the lump to be removed. Praying that everything's gonna be okay. But you get the picture. I need to work for my family.

Also this week, two of my friends back in college got engaged. Ganito pala kapag mid-20s na. You hear friends getting married one after another. And of course, I also have my own wedding to attend to ... in the near future, hehe. But yeah, I need to prepare for that.

So far so good.

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PSALM 121

I lift up my eyes to the hills—
where does my help come from?
My help comes from the LORD,
the Maker of heaven and earth.

He will not let your foot slip—
he who watches over you will not slumber;
indeed, he who watches over Israel
will neither slumber nor sleep.

The LORD watches over you—
the LORD is your shade at your right hand;
the sun will not harm you by day,
nor the moon by night.

The LORD will keep you from all harm—
he will watch over your life;
the LORD will watch over your coming and going
both now and forevermore.

Life in A Nutshell: House-cleaning

Here are some highlights of my day:

• Last week was the bummest day. Life halt--thanks to typhoon Egay--no ministry, no class, just stayed at home and watch movie marathons. Made me also to rest and restore lost strength.
  
• Had a meeting this morning with friends in youth ministry. It was a great time spending time with them again after a long time not having seen and talk to each other because of our own ministries. Received and was assigned to quite a challenging task which I realized God somehow prepared me that something like this is coming. Nevertheless I am excited and can't wait conquer new territories and challenges ahead. More details later.
• My Carecell spent some bonding time this afternoon. Haven't gone out with them these past few months. So it was a welcome relaxation. No meetings, we had it the previous day, so we could just enjoy and relax today. Went to Trinoma, Riverbanks and Tiendesitas. My carecell, also our youth core group, is the greatest and I am really proud having them as part of the team. I've seen them grow after all these years. Some God has called to ministry, others to excel in their studies and workplace. I've committed myself to personally invest my life, experiences and knowledge to them.
  
• I'm doing some house-cleaning in my spiritual life and ministry these days. Finally, after sometime idling around I got the push to pick up where I left off. I realized today the greatness of His compassion and lordship, how He sees a polished diamond through a rough stone. I can only stand amazed and in awe of Him.

This verse really helped me get up from that mud pile and shamelessly follow Him again:

"If the Lord had not been my help, my soul would soon have dwelt in the abode of silence. If I should say, "My foot has slipped," Your lovingkindness, O Lord, will hold me up. When my anxious thoughts multiply within me, Your consolations delight my soul ... the Lord has been my stronghold and my God the rock of my refuge." ~ Psalm 94:17-19, 22

But of course, no classes again!

News just announced that there will be no classes tomorrow. Since the rainy season came, our campus ministry has been greatly affected since we won't be able to meet the students in school. Kuya Kevin reminds us that being stuck amidst a sea of rainwater has its own benefits. Anyway, I like the rainy days also, its cold and chilly.

It's my brother's 21st birthday today.

Kokey

Does anybody else think that Kokey, from ABS-CBN's primetime series of the same name, is the freakiest children's character ever? I wouldn't want him showing up in our kitchen or crawling under the tables. Quite scary...

Simposonize Me!

My Visual DNA

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"Do not remember the iniquities of our forefathers against us. Let your compassion come quickly to meet us for we are brought very low. Help us O God of our salvation for the glory of your name. And deliver us and forgive our sins for your name's sake." (Psalm 79:8-10)

"O Lord God of hosts, restore us. Cause your face to shine upon us and we will be saved." (Psalm 80:19)

"But I would feed you the finest wheat and with honey from the rock I would satisfy you." (Psalm 81:16)

I'm a kid with ADD

I got to get back on the habit on blogging. Not so much because I'm a busybody that I can't post new entries more frequently, but in fact it is total laziness, not in hitting the keys, but in processing the mind and sharing my thoughts. Just as I wrote in my last post, I'm in this state of hibernation. I was scanning this book Spirit-filled Temperament by Tim La Haye and it writes how a melancholy or choleric temperament (I'm not sure which one) incurs in himself great depression after experiencing great victory. Could this be true in my situation? It has happened a few times. But I am hesitant to accept this. "I am fearfully and wonderfully made."

On the other hand I think that I am in desperate need these kinds of valleys. I forget to ask myself what I always ask before. "Where is God in all of these? What is He teaching me?" I'm a kid suffering from ADD. And perhaps the only way He could put my right where He wants me to be--in His loving and healing presence is shutting the lights off--out from the sparkles and noise and finally emerge as who I really am--an ordinary guy before an extra-ordinary, great and loving Father. He snuffs those moth-drawing lights so that finally He could catch me and embrace his beloved son, the one who was lost but now is found. "I am the only One you need. My heart aches to finally get a chance to tell you that you are loved, accepted, with NOTHING TO PROVE; I rejoice over you, my child, with singing. I quiet you with my love. I'm not a God who drives a slave to hardwork, in fact my yoke is easy and my burden is light. I am your Father and you are my beloved son."

Let me be always reminded that I'm not Superman, but just a vessel--that is just ordinary, nothing special--without His heavenly treasures kept inside; just an ass, literally and figuratively--if not used for the Master's service. "Knowing me sucks unless you see Christ in me." Let Him increase and I decrease.

"My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness."

Life in A Nugget: APAW & Ice-cream

Haven't blogged for a while. Here are some things going on with me in the past few weeks:

• Last Saturday we had our section's Youth APAW (All-out Praise And Worship) at Word of Hope. It was a blast. Young people have come from different churches in section 2 to participate in the event. Our band led the first set of worship. There were times when our vocals are cut because of power failures but as our voices were cut we hear the voices of the youth sing and worship. Such a lovely sight!
• My ministry in campus have been off and on because of abrupt suspension of classes. Last Friday classes were suspended because they had a teachers meeting and today it's suspended again because of SK registrations. But I'm quite joyful for what's happening on our campus bible studies on other days because it's doing great. I find this sudden changes in routine disorienting because for the past few weeks I've been riding a roller-coaster ride. If you tried destroying an ant trail by rubbing your laway or something on the path to remove the scent trail... I'm one of those ants. To say the least the term "ang hirap ispelengin" fits me right now. I don't like the feeling. So guys please pray for me. but Praise God I'm recovering and praying that God will deliver me from burn-out.
  
• Yesterday coming from school I went to SM Manila and I saw a great find. A new ice-cream/cake stall called Scoop-a-cake. There cakes have ice-cream filling inside. And their ice-cream have bits of cake inside. So nice. I tried a Black Forest ice cream. For P30 it's a great find--one large scoop size larger than a tennis ball served on top of Belgian waffle cone. The ice cream was filled with chocolate cake bits, chocolate chips and cherries! I hope they would soon have an ice cream house. Anyway you have to try it, if you love ice cream. They are on the same floor as the cinema near Chowking and the escalators.
• Last night when I went home I discovered that my laptop had become an annex for a bunch of ants that have been trailing on the wall near my table. Grr. They were endlessly coming in and out of my USB socket and its annoying. They stopped now since I wiped it with computer cleanser.
  

Please include me in your prayers:

• Please pray for my whole well-being--physical, emotional and spiritual.
• Please pray for financial provision. I know He provides.
• Please pray for my ministry to the youth and campus.

"I am like an olive tree flourishing in the house of God; I trust in God's unfailing love for ever and ever. I will praise you forever for what you have done; in your name I will hope, for your name is good. I will praise you in the presence of your saints." - David, Ps. 52:8-9

Oh, that I had the wings of a dove! I would fly away and be at rest--I would flee far away and stay in the desert... I call to God and the Lord saves me. Evening, morning and noon I cry out in distress, and he hears my voice... Cast your cares on the LORD and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous fall... As for me, I trust in [the Lord]. - David, Ps. 55