Livin' only by Grace

I've read somewhere that everyone's miserable. They're just good at hiding it. I have been trying to find out why this new season seems to be a burden to me. Don't get me wrong -- I enjoy motherhood and I love my little one but something seems to be blocking my view of experiencing it joyfully.  Callie's already 10 months and everything just dawned on me -- why I was struggling, why I can't see things the way it should be, why I felt ineffective and frustrated and depressed. I think I just had post-partum depression.  I just got back from my US business trip and I just bursted into tears a few days after while singing Jesus loves me -- as if I'm telling that to myself. I'm grateful that I have a husband who listens and understands and encourages me that I can do it! I just realized the root cause(s) of what's going on after that incident. I was too attached to Callie that I don't want her to leave my site when I'm with her. I...

I was reading a long-overdue-book and I bumped into this: I have been married for almost two years now and I suddenly reminisced my late teenage years... It was in those years when God made me realize that maturity doesn't come with age... I was younger then, when I understood this very excerpt from the book Let Me Be a Woman (funny how everything He taught me is already in this book had I not stopped reading it! Indeed His humor is amazing). I started reading this way back 2007 or 2008 only to continue it now and read this now. I stopped reading it way back then because I don't have plans of getting married yet... little did I know that He will make me understand this in His own personal way. And right now, I was like, "So Lord, You must be saying, 'I told you so..' right?" haha! ...  The key to meeting your better half starts with maturity. And maturity comes from God.   To those who are still searching for their better half, don't. Don...

Do you seek great things for yourself? —Jeremiah 45:5 Are you seeking great things for yourself, instead of seeking to be a great person? God wants you to be in a much closer relationship with Himself than simply receiving His gifts— He wants you to get to know Him. Even some large thing we want is only incidental; it comes and it goes. But God never gives us anything incidental. There is nothing easier than getting into the right relationship with God, unless it is not God you seek, but only what He can give you. If you have only come as far as asking God for things, you have never come to the point of understanding the least bit of what surrender really means. You have become a Christian based on your own terms. You protest, saying, "I asked God for the Holy Spirit, but He didn’t give me the rest and the peace I expected." And instantly God puts His finger on the reason-you are not seeking the Lord at all; you are seeking something for yourself. Jesus said, "Ask, and...

In a few months time, I'll be welcoming another year.. . I'm turning 22.. . Once, a friend told me how important goals are.. . She always has.. . When she turned 20, she wants to be like this.. . When she turned 21, like this.. . and so on.. . I tried to somehow do the same thing.. . but when I turned 20, I somehow screwed things up.. . *_* realizing that I can never do it alone.. . Now I'm turning 22.. . What's in it for me? I remember a conversation between me and a friend when we were still teenagers.. . " Why are you excited to be 20 years old?" "It's because I can do more -- like decide more etc".. . But just now, I realized.. . how I wish I was younger.. . (haha!) Not that I regret things.. . It's just that I'm kind of "not ready" yet.. . I don't know.. . When I look at the people.. . my young cousins.. . sometimes I ask myself, " So, what's gonna happen next? I'm not getting younger.. . I'm getting ol...

tired.. . enduring.. . silent.. . waiting.. . obeying.. . standing.. . praising.. . crying.. .

.. .so that the next generation will be different.. . heard this line years ago.. .but it's still ringing in my mind.. . the reward cannot be counted.. . but a sacrifice should be made.. . STAND OUT! Be different so that the next generation will be different.. .

many people say that promises are made to be broken.. . can't blame them.. .people are people.. . some people just find it hard to keep their promises.. . even I.. .sometimes I find it hard to believe that things will come true just as He promised.. . sometimes when I come to God in prayer, yes, I do tell Him that He promised this.. .and that.. .but sometimes my heart no longer have the strength to believe.. . until I realized just this morning that indeed Jesus never fails.. . when I no longer know what to read in the Bible, I always start with Genesis (well of course, it's the first book, you know.. .haha!) and every time I start to read it again, the impact of His Words are no longer the same.. .it's different every time! (so sweet!) and so this morning, as I was reading.. . I was just fascinated at how God kept His promise to a man.. . and because of that we're still alive today.. . i believe you're familiar with the story of Noah (the guy who built an ark) yeah...

. . . to those who are . . . called to be saints . . . —1 Corinthians 1:2 Thank God for being able to see all that you have not yet been. You have had the vision, but you are not yet to the reality of it by any means. It is when we are in the valley, where we prove whether we will be the choice ones, that most of us turn back. We are not quite prepared for the bumps and bruises that must come if we are going to be turned into the shape of the vision. We have seen what we are not, and what God wants us to be, but are we willing to be battered into the shape of the vision to be used by God? The beatings will always come in the most common, everyday ways and through common, everyday people. There are times when we do know what God’s purpose is; whether we will let the vision be turned into actual character depends on us, not on God. If we prefer to relax on the mountaintop and live in the memory of the vision, then we will be of no real use in the ordinary things of which human life is...

He who believes in Me . . . out of his heart will flow . . . —John 7:38 Jesus did not say, "He who believes in Me will realize all the blessings of the fullness of God," but, in essence, "He who believes in Me will have everything he receives escape out of him." Our Lord’s teaching was always anti -self-realization. His purpose is not the development of a person— His purpose is to make a person exactly like Himself, and the Son of God is characterized by self-expenditure. If we believe in Jesus, it is not what we gain but what He pours through us that really counts. God’s purpose is not simply to make us beautiful, plump grapes, but to make us grapes so that He may squeeze the sweetness out of us. Our spiritual life cannot be measured by success as the world measures it, but only by what God pours through us— and we cannot measure that at all. When Mary of Bethany "broke the flask . . . of very costly oil . . . and poured it on [Jesus’] head," it was an...

Why is making a difference hard.. .? Why is it that only few people follow that road.. .? Been in that position before.. . wherein your heart seeks nothing but making a difference to please your Creator.. . but time will come when you'll realize that it's not really about change .. .it's not really about making a difference .. . it's not really about doing what's right .. . it's all about LOVE .. . the love that overflows from you coming from the Greatest Lover Himself - Jesus Christ.. . realizing that you don't have to do anything to please Him.. .because He is already pleased with you just by looking at you.. .everything that you would do now would be because you have experienced the love coming from Him.. . every decision that you'll make.. .every principle that you'll stand for.. .every battle that you'll fight.. .everything.. .you'll do everything because of love.. . but it's hard.. .it's hard to be strong.. .it's hard to rea...

feelin' kinda gloomy today.. .don't know why.. . just felt like crying.. .to somehow release the stress.. . **, and it's just so sweet that everywhere I look, His words are consistent.. . it always boils down to one thing - TRUST .. Trust Him that He knows the plans He has for me.. .Trust Him that He will deliver me.. .Trust Him that He sees everything.. .Trust Him that He loves me.. .He loves me.. .He loves me.. . Today.. . was just idle.. .and i bumped on this site.. .(it's on my sidebar).. .then the topic is about rest.. .same thought.. . **, Oh Lord.. . Just grant me the Grace to endure one more day.. . One day at a time.. .

I love You Oh Lord my strength hooh.. .i'm still sleepy.. . I wasn't able to sleep in the bus.. . di talaga ko sanay.. . woke up late.. .hoooooooooh.. .thank God for the peace... dati kase sobrang nangangarag ako kase ayokong ma-late.. .I arrived here at 7:01 am.. .and whew.. .my student doesn't want to have a class so I was able to rest and have my breakfast.. .^^, hoooh.. . thank God for the strength.. . i just chose to thank Him for eveyrthing that's happening.. .instead of voicing out that i'm a bit tired.. . Thank You Lord for today.. .I was able to see this day with so much strength coming from YOu.. .by Your Grace.. . Thank You for the ministry.. .for allowing me to be responsible.. . Thank You for the strength to do what You want me to do.. . Even if I'm tired, thank You for the strength to face another day.. . Thank You for the bus this morning.. .I was able to see ate gil and her mom, and Timmy... .indeed all things are working together for good.. . Th...

haha.. .ate gil, don't know what to call this post.. hehe ^^, anyways, thank you for the treat.. haha! and sa mga kwento.. .=p sa uulitin.. .iniisip ko tuloy kung magoovernight pa ba ko diyan sa inyo.. hahahahahahaha!! I really enjoyed it actually.. hehe.. .nakaka-miss makipagkwentuhan ng ganun.. hehe parang after some time.. .(it's been a long time. .haha) since nagkaron ko ng ganun kakwentuhan.. . hehe.. .thanks for the kwentos .. hahahaha natutuwa at natatawa kase ko habang nagkkwento ka.. .=p it's like something is running at the back of my mind.. haha nakakatuwa lang.. . pero I have some realizations.. . * IT'S POSSIBLE .. .I've always hoped.. .and prayed.. .that someday.. .I will wake up.. .na yung mga tao sa paligid ko.. .they just love to give.. .to give without even asking for anything in return.. .and it's possible.. .^^, it's possible.. .'coz it's happening in other parts of the world.. .just start to give.. . *IT'S WORTH THE WAIT .. ....

.. . have you ever experienced a point in your life wherein in little by little, you're realizing that you don't know how to do the things you used to do.. .? the things you're good at? the UNLEARNING process.. . i remember one time, i posted a blog entry from utmost for His Highest entitled Do you see Jesus in your clouds? and a line from that devotional caught me.. .pierced my heart.. .it says.. . Through every cloud He brings our way, He wants us to unlearn something. hoooh.. . i know this one really spoke to me.. .but i haven't realized the whole concept until yesterday.. . to UNLEARN to the truest sense of the word UNLEARN .. . hooh.. first is unlearning this one.. .and then this one.. .and then this one.. . and this morning I was reminded of Moses.. . a great man.. .intelligent.. .wealthy.. .but at some point in time, God brought him to the desert.. .for him to unlearn everything.. .and learn just ONE THING - HIM.. . to trust Him.. .be satisfied with Him.. ...

Le seigneur, je veux dire merci que Vous avez rendu chaque langue différente. À partir de maintenant, je veux dire merci pour cette magnifique expérience, l'expérience se cassant. Je ne peux pas juste expliquer que je me suis senti hier. C'est juste ainsi humbling et très se cassant. Merci pour chaque moment que Vous videz ma tasse. Merci d'emporter tout pour que je puisse juste avoir VOUS et VOUS seul. Merci d'être si doux. Je crois que Vous avez un grand but et une raison pourquoi cela arrive. Désolé du retard. Je chérirai pour toujours cette expérience. mouvement vers la maturité.

The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound; To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn; -Isaiah 61:1-2 *** ^^,

= CHARITY... i was reminded that that's how elisabeth elliot wanted to define it... and as i searched the meaning of charity, this is what i got: noun, plural -ties. 1. generous actions or donations to aid the poor, ill, or helpless 2. something given to a person or persons in need; alms 4. a charitable fund, foundation, or institution 5. benevolent feeling, esp. toward those in need or in disfavor 6. leniency in judging others; forbearance 7. Christian love; agape. (http://www.dictionary.com) i was surprised with the last definition.. hehe kahit pala sa mundo, alam nila yun... hehehehe sometimes when we hear the word charity, charitable institutions na nga lang yung pumapasok sa isip natin... but that's how God loves us... and ngayon ko lang nakita yung King James Version ng 1 Corinthians 13.. and the word used there is charity... 4 Charity suffereth long , and is kind ; charity envieth not ; charity vaunteth not itself , is not puffed up , 5 Doth not behave it...

from the Greatest Lover Himself... ^_^ God is just so great that in every situation you are in, whether you're feelin' good about yourself or others treat you with indifference... you'll still be reminded that GOD is LOVE... HE loves you unconditionally... ^_^ have you experienced a point in your life wherein you wanted to do something but He won't allow it even though it's the desire of your heart... but it's for your own good... that's how He tells you He loves you... sometimes we have decisions to make... we're hard headed.. but God's will prevails... hehe.. minsan naiisip ko parang Lord, sana di na lang ganun.. sana katulad na lang ng ibang tao na parang walang pakelam... pero hindi... GOD WILL CONTINUE TO WORK OUT HIS PLANS IN YOUR LIFE BECAUSE HE WANTS THE BEST FOR YOU... His will prevails... He will be persistent enough to insist how much He loves you... until you respond.. ^_^ and I'm experiencing that right now... feeling so much patienc...

realizations... God is SO GRACIOUS.... AND MERCIFUL... >grabe lang yung favor ni LOrd... and i'm just overwhelmed... God will fulfill His plans NO MATTER WHAT... >kahit ikaw pa yung magpa-delay nun or what... it shall come to pass... =) God does "not so good things" [may be in your own perspective] >but that's what you've been praying for actually... it's for your OWN GOOD... God LOVES YOU DEARLY >that's why He wants to lead you and correct you... =) have a blessed sunday night... =) ***** to my previous batchmates who passed the Nursing Licensure Exam, CONGRATULATIONS!!!! You know who you are!!! [syempre! di ko pa kasi nakikita kung sino lahat eh... hehe!] CONGRATS TO MY ALMA MATER [DLS-HSC]... balita ko, 95% PASSING RATE NATIN!!! [NIYO PALA...] tapos yung overall, 94% hehehehe... may God bless you...

as i was about to have my devotion this morning... hehehe that's the title of the devotional.... we all know that God is with us... God fights FOR us... but are you familiar with God fighting against us..? God will fight against us if... we will give our affections to other gods.... [you know that it's not just a god made of wood... but other gods that's everywhere... you can worship that without you knowing that you're already worshiping a 'god'] if our own hearts wander away from God.. we can count on Him to fight against us if we become proud and self-assured, if reading God's Word and spending time in prayer seem like a waste of time, God will step in and deal with us... God fight against us... for our own good... He permits us to experience defeat so that we will listen to Him when He says, "Rend your heart, and not your garments; return to the LORD your God for He is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness" (Joel 2:13). ...