p a s t o ♛ e j

training Zi to use his pacies...

*chatting with Tatay while keeping up with "Be Careful With My Heart" series--good thing the ads are posted on youtube.

Zi, chilling on his bouncer (3weeks & 18weeks)... our boy has grown big already! *happy sob*

Since we stepped into ministry, we have encountered countless surprises. This weekend's encounter is one.


Untamed Waves. During the baptism, we were slapped by the biggest waves than what we can't almost handle. Seventeen eagerlz said yes to the prophetic gesture of being released into ministry. And it was a perfect time to illustrate a Biblical truth. We wanted to experience Biblical moments... Ha!


Unknowingly Intruded. The least we expected was theft. Cellphones, wallets, napsacks. We were imparting, receiving, renouncing, celebrating--and the devil got his way. Whew! Blessings and freedom overtook anyway. Soli Deo gloria!


Unrelenting Perseverance. I missed Kabacan today for health concerns that should have kept me rested. Nonetheless, God has orchestrated ways of letting me minister. Preaching at Matina was a perfect testimony of God's strength that allow me to:
•receive His calling
•carry His presence
•release His power


Strength... It is a necessity to unpredictable ministry--that His Name be completely glorified!


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Just a short note to paste a moment:

I was sleepless for a cause. And mornings never fail to usher in delights to a heart prone of melting. I feel healthier. Who wouldn't be? I feel like I have created a mark on a 5-yo pastor's kid who's living across miles from a different country. Ministry is for all ages. So dear self, accelerate sa hataw mode!




Trivia: Both Blessy's have the same birthday--a day prior to mine.


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I woke up feeling all-too-princess-y today. (Mind you, green tea is effective!) As Monday's keep all of us busy, mine usually starts at 3AM to beat the 8AM deadline of my work week. But this morning, I opted to sleep well and sleep deep. Good for me, I surmise. I need all the rest in the world while half of me thinks that I need all the work that I can be opportuned with. Three-months and a half to go.


Smitten.


Here is another week that gets me caught up in all things and icons that are kingdom-ly. First off, Kabacan ministry will commence on Saturday--and I will be there (woohoo!); Merje, Mayee, Ilyn and I are conceiving mode of Samal ministry; while Langga is getting Mati ready for invasion; I have three klosels (mine, Langga's, and Blessy's) to hold this week; and I should be finalizing the vintage chair that I wanted to get. I have never felt so near to doing the kingdom-agenda and so close to being the Church--the Bride of Christ--until I am here--getting ready to be wed.


(I need to start a different blog).

Working at home has changed much of my laagan nature. Practically, I have become notorious for online shopping of almost all sorts--cell phone, shirts, Havaianas slippers, watch, and even a vintage telephone from the US. To note, I could attest that the adventurous spirit is still much alive in me. I find it fun browsing catalogs, reading reviews, sending PM's, bidding and winning--to say the least. And the willies that a pending order (in its flight to her new owner) utterly takes the life of me to highest spirits.

I am fun. I proclaim.

Today, guess what. I am in another spontaneous shopping of black-white-gray corporate tops--the only way I know how to dress my petite self. I got across this album of tailored blouses--they are so laid back, they are so me! I can't help but blush in delight--they are just around 500-700 Php at their elegance. (So there, I dropped the prices! Haha, I am really conscious on the way I spend. Proverbs say we will be accounted for the way we spend our money).

So, why am I spilling all my randomness early this morning? Well, I can't pick my top likes. I might as well click my time away until I can decide. *toodles*

While preparing for the program for next week's Youth Reload, I came across this Justin Bieber video. He was younger then; obviously having passion for the Lord. And I thought, What if, in his concerts, he suddenly leads people to worship and calls for an altar?

Sure, it's gonna be a great harvest event.

I am definitely past the JBieber generation, but seeing them, there's so many young souls to win for the Lord. And, one sweet, big hope I see. We just don't know what God is preparing JB for. In the limelight, for such a time as this--only God knows. (Okay, I'm about to request prayer for him... wahehe! Well, if you won't mind, you can! =D)

Barely half of the day, my mind's so up and running--but only one thing in mind--to express devotion to the greatest love of my life: Jesus.

I tell you what. I've been living a cashless life. I mean, literally not having money. I guess that's how a traditional Christian defines "living by faith." I'm adept with allowing God to move in my life beyond the indispensable concerns of finance. And I could testify. I've traveled to cities and nations, sometimes, without a single penny. Yes, my God can [provide].

When we were younger, me and my sibs were trained to save. We had our piggy banks... and popular to Filipinos, bamboo banks. And then, we each opened our kiddie bank account at whatever-happened-to Banco Filipino. I would excitedly go to neighboring depository alone--as a grader. (With how our money built up then? Papaps would sometimes buy our exam results, sell peanut butter or save up from our allowance--with whatever we keep, he would double it, provided we put it in. Sure, we were motivated.)


Over the years, the faith was established rather radically. And I guess, seeing myself drop whatever was salted away, yes, even a hefty amount of 30K (which miraculously came from somewhere, someone) in the offering box. Yes, that vintage-y box became my financial account, believing that a celestial bank pays much more. I was never taught that, but I've seen it open a wellspring of blessing for our family as this lifestyle was modeled to us by my parents. 

Now understanding that God does not will me to live only a life of surviving weekends (of course, I don't mean just that, hehe!) but an abundant daily life. Proverbs 3:9-10 is too much of a promise that I sadly didn't really acted upon. He was ever ready to bless me ever since I obeyed but I don't have the vats prepared for the turnaround's. Last yearend, I realized I miss banking. So I candidly scribbled on my Book of Dreams that this year, I'd finally open another my third one. With some quirks in the way, I ended up with two--in just a month. And God has poured out soooooo much [initial] blessing yet! Indeed, my God can [promote]. I'm still living life by faith only in another dimension for I am convinced, He can [prosper] His people!

Finally, I get to post the shots at last Yuppies' Night, 2nd of April, at McDonald's-JP Laurel. I only had twelve trying-to-be-smart snaps of the activity. We were asked to go paparazzi-mode and get shots of each other on the condition that no face is taken. Steal photos on body parts or accessories only. I tried to get the highlight of select yuppies for me to remember them easily when asked to identify the owner. Barely two weeks now, I could no longer recall who these celebrities were. That was a chaotic night!

If that's you somewhere, just lemme know. I' have a secret to tell you. Yeah, exclusive for these photo owners. By the way, Lalai won the activity by fourteen whopping identified shots in a minute! My shutterbug of a sister!

Last night is another fizzle time with my girls in church. We had to plan the twelfth day of our conquest season. After the hodgepodge of thoughts (yeah, we're like that--much of the planning time is jesting over the juicy parts of our lives), Langga and I were into another wave of spontaneity. We gushed over things big and small, but the bulk of yesternight's tattle was sharing about how our settled ministry-focused lives were again poked.

Always the articulate speaker, she sliced recent moments of having an array of job offers enough to address the rants of relatives knowing her to be all out in the ministry. But she was firm enough to say that her heart is decided to only move when she hears from God. I find her truly committed but I admit I also see in her eyes the desire of a genuine nurse eager to be back in action with those in medical uniforms. It must be tough when you know you have the edge in the field but you feel ripped the same when you're not doing what God calls you to do. Well, seeing other young people come to BCC in their hospital uniforms must have triggered the few times she entertains the idea.

In the realm of openness and encouragement, we managed to cross the drama of the night. We knew we just want to be responsible in generating more resource for our dear selves that we would be able to bless others around us. And as of this writing, we just finished our first business meeting with Dion. We were in our imaginary medical scrub top--busily working out to create a balance of things. Really, it is time to take the first step to healing the disease of the uneven.

Since being in the youth pastoral team in Buhangin Community Center, I have been blessed to eat out a lot more than stress myself with planning. Well, it’s more converse than what I just said, but it feels more of the fun side now than tough. It’s true, building rapport has changed much of our leadership strength. And, tonight, our meeting at Coffee Cat was more of unloading and listening to one another. I had always been friends with Micah since way back when, but now I could really testify more of the evident strength of God in her life. What seem to tear her apart has always been powerless by the sustaining grace God freely affords her. And there was Val, Indai, Ombeng. These guys rock. They are all working people (Now, I am, too! ) yet they lavish so much time for the work of God. I am blessed. We meet the Yuppies (young professionals at church) monthly, but the youth only know so much about the core leaders they look up or pass by–stars in their own right, for the yuppies, a secret team star of five edges.