Monday, February 23, 2009

ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE by Hillsong



Lyrics:

Almighty God my Redeemer
My hiding place my safe refuge, no other name like Jesus
No power can stand against You.

My feet are planted on this Rock
And I will not be shaken
My hope it comes from You alone
My Lord and my Salvation

Your praise is always on my lips
Your Word is living in my heart
And I will praise You with a new song, My soul will bless You Lord

You fill my life with greater joy
Yes I delight myself in You
And I will praise You with a new song, My soul will bless You, Lord

When I am weak, You make me strong
When I'm poor, I know I'm rich for in the power of Your name
All things are possible
All things are possible
All things are possible
All things are possible

Listen to this song over and over until it has instilled in you that ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE WITH GOD! NO EXEMPTIONS!

GOD LOVES YOU AS MUCH AS HE LOVES OTHERS! HE IS A JUST GOD! AND ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE WITH HIM AND TO THOSE WHO TRUST AND BELIEVE IN HIM!

ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE WITH GOD!!!

And to those who believe...

I will not let others affect what I believe GOD can do.

I do not think that the GOD who parted the Red Sea differ in other situations. I really do believe that the GOD who won me over the evil one can also do the same thing with other people. Our GOD does not become weak in other situations. HE IS STRONG ALL THE TIME!!!

MY GOD IS YOUR GOD, as well. MY GOD does not differ in other situations.

This is what I believe and will continue to believe.

ONLY GOD CAN CHANGE PEOPLE...and I firmly believe that!

I can only pray for beautiful changes...whether I am the only one who believes that...I would not be affected by what others think because I deeply know the GOD who transformed me into this kind of person and the GOD who gave me this kind of faith!

I am not looking at situations right now...I am looking at my GOD!!!



Lyrics:

Hear our praises,
Hear Your people sing
Hear our hearts cry,
Your love is everything

And all will hear this sound
As the nations turn to You
And this will be our anthem

Cause we're all about You
And the world You promised
And all we have will give you praise
Cause we're all about You
And the world can't stop us
Living Your Way
Always

Let our hearts break,
As we praise your name
Let the earth shake,
This is the sound of faith

And all will hear this sound
As the nations turn to You
And this will be our anthem

Cause we're all about You
And the world You promised
And all we have will give you praise
Cause we're all about You
And the world can't stop us
Living Your Way
Always

And the walls will fall down
and religion will break
And the nations will hear this shout
Can you hear the sound of faith?

One of my morning devotions...

OUR DAILY BREAD

MAKE AN IMPACT. MAKE A DIFFERENCE. MAKE A RIPPLE. TIP THE SCALE.

ALL THE GLORY BELONGS TO GOD ALONE!!!

GOD BLESS YOU ABUNDANTLY! GOD IS ALWAYS WITH YOU - NO MATTER WHAT! P.U.S.H.

When you feel GOD's love, OVERFLOW! Do not withdraw.

Sunday, February 22, 2009

Naga City

Okay Elisha suggested that I make a travel blog. I told her I can't do that so I'll just share the beautiful nature GOD created for us to appreciate. Our itinerary, as well. hehehe! Some are not posted here but I will be posting them one at a time with some of my blogposts so watch out for them. hehehe! Yeah I like surprises! hahaha! Hope you enjoy.

At the park after the NSPC parade
Villa Caceres Hotel (inside)
Outside the hotel at night

The Centerpiece of Mocha Blends and Tokyo Tokyo (Our Secret Hideaway)
Some of Naga's delicacies
CamSur Watersports Complex (CWC)
The little girl is wakeboarding (left side)
Sunbathing under the shade (hehehe)


Foreigners wakeboarding


CWC Restaurant
Exit Here
Lahar Sculptures of the Mayon Volcano with the Cagsaua Ruins
Woman making a handmade bag
Mayon Volcano

Crosses at the Cagsaua Ruins
Cagsaua Ruins

Headed home
Inside the bus


Make an impact. Make a difference. Make a ripple. Tip the scale.

ALL THE GLORY BELONGS TO GOD ALONE!!!

P.U.S.H.

GOD BLESS YOU ABUNDANTLY! GOD IS ALWAYS WITH YOU - NO MATTER WHAT!

When you feel GOD's love, OVERFLOW!

GO GO GOD!!! (Lessons Learned)

Go go go for spiritual breakthrough!!!

Go go go for LOVE!!!

OYEH!!!



Lyrics:

Say the word and I will sing for You
Over oceans deep, I will follow
If each star was a song
And every breath of wind, praise
It would still fail by far to say
All my heart contains
I simply live, I simply live for You

Chorus:
As the glory of Your presence
Now fills this place
In worship, we will meet You face to face
There is nothing in this world
To which You can be compared
Glory on glory, praise upon praise
You bind the broken hearted
And save all my tears
By Your word, You set the captives free
There is nothing in this world
That You cannot do
I simply live, I simply live for You


Words + Prayers (by Joyce Meyer)

1.) Don't murmur, grumble, find fault and complain.
-attitude is the problem
-complain means remain
-all the complaining grieves the Holy Spirit

2.) Do not quench, suppress, subdue the Holy Spirit
-When you pray for somebody, GOD convicts that person.
-GOD, I thank You that You keep working. (continuous optimistic prayer)

3.) Don't gossip, judge and criticize.
-When you stand before GOD, HE's not gonna ask about others but you should be accountable with yourself.

4.) Don't talk about problems over and over.
5.) Don't boast.
6.) Don't be negative.
7.) Bless everything.
8.) Be thankful.
9.) Encourage, edify
10.) Tell the truth
11.) Speak the Word of GOD with your mouth.

Let GOD change them.
Words contain power.

Before, one of my most said aloud verses in the Bible is "Greater is HE that is in me than he that is in the world." To add more to it, I have learned to use, "Show JESUS." Whenever you are tempted or getting weak, just encourage yourself and say, "Show JESUS."

It is a real test to be surrounded by non-Christians for a week. But it is one of the most rewarding things I could ever have been blessed with. Because it is then that I saw how GOD held me as HIS daughter. I saw how GOD did not let Elisha and I conform to the world but instead we wanted to be different.

In order to win souls, I have also learned to "SHOW EXCELLENCE" in everything I do. Whether I am sleeping, sitting down, eating or whatever it is I'm doing. I am such a sleeper. I was never a punctual person but GOD used Cody and the Holy Spirit to convict and correct me. I am super touched emotionally to know that Mrs. Castillo (regional director) told my mom how she enjoyed our company and how she is truly inspired by our existence in her life. So rewarding!

PATIENCE

While we were traveling to Mayon Volcano, some of our companions in the bus were trying to take pictures of the Mayon Volcano as we can see some of it already. They were taking pictures while the bus was moving. Trees and woodposts along the way that makes it difficult to take candid shots of the beautiful volcano. A few more minutes left and we'll see the complete beauty of it. Then I wondered, why couldn't they just wait for a couple of minutes before they take pictures?

I got an insight from this about patience. When we pray for something, our patience is being tested. When we do not wait for the perfect timing of GOD, we will encounter hindrances that will not make us happy. We begin to blame other things. Most of the time we blame GOD. While if we wait for GOD's Perfect Timing, HE will give us the beauty of HIS Reward.

When we arrive at the Mayon Volcano, it was a stunning beauty. I was in awe of GOD's creation. I took a lot of pictures. Not only of the volcano but also the surroundings. I didn't even take a picture of myself. hahaha! Elisha kept on insisting though. hehehe! When we wait, we get the best of GOD. If not the best, the EXCELLENCE OF GOD!!!

Worship - Devotions - Prayers

I was truly brought to the next level by the HOLY SPIRIT. I can only glorify GOD for HIS faithfulness. GOD's faithfulness does not depend on our faithfulness. Just be faithful in your worship, devotions and prayers and HE will take you higher.

When Elisha won, we waited for the closing ceremony. Both of us were so surprised to hear this song for the doxology.



At the end of it all, ALL THE GLORY BELONGS TO GOD ALONE!!! NONE FOR US, ALL FOR HIM!!!

Elisha and I thank GOD so much for the humility HE has bestowed upon us. HE DESERVES ALL THE GLORY!!!

GOD BLESS YOU ABUNDANTLY! GOD IS ALWAYS WITH YOU - NO MATTER WHAT!

Make an impact. Make a difference. Make a ripple. Tip the scale.

P.U.S.H.

When you feel GOD's love, OVERFLOW!

Saturday, February 21, 2009

i do not believe in divorce...i believe in GOD!!!

After reading the blog of a dear friend and sister in CHRIST, I was truly burdened. I have been reading about testimonies of different people in their marriages and marriage books. I desire to edify my soul with optimism from GOD. I desire to surround myself with people who truly knows the real meaning of GOD. I desire to focus more on GOD. GOD has brought me to the next level of spiritual breakthrough that I've been desiring and it didn't even come from anyone but HIM. It is a spiritual breakthrough wherein GOD personally moved. I did not go to a revival conference or seminar. I desire to claim GOD's Victory in my life. In every aspect of my life. Oh I am so overwhelmed with the Holy Spirit that I do not even want to look at the negative things in life. Well, we all have problems and we ought to face them. There are times that we confess and surrender them to GOD. Because in GOD's Perfect Will, we are safe and complete.

I would like to share a beautiful article from one of my favorite couples...

by Dennis and Barbara Rainey

Believing the Lie

Romans 12:2
And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.

I'll never forget my conversation with a friend I ran into at a fast-food restaurant. I knew he was seeing a marriage counselor, and I asked him how his marriage was going.
"Not too well," he told me. He said his wife was a constant nag. He had decided their relationship couldn't work, and he was going to get a divorce. Then he made the mistake of asking, "What do you think?"
"I think that's ridiculous," I replied. For several minutes I exhorted him to work at it, to not give up. "You can make this marriage work if you really want to," I said.
But he didn't want to be reminded of his responsibility as a Christian husband to his wife. "I just don't think that God ever intended for me to be this unhappy," he said.
To me, this was a perfect example of a person who was being conformed to the world rather than to God's perfect will. He claimed to be a Christian, but he had not allowed his mind to be transformed. As long as he cared only for his own happiness, he would move from one tragic relationship to another.
Another man, who had just seen his marriage resurrected after a divorce, heard about this conversation. He commented, "He's believing the lie. He thinks that the most important thing is to feel good. But what really feels good is working through the problems."

Prayer:
That God would give you a joy in working through your struggles, and that He would not allow you to give up on your marriage relationship when you are not happy.

Discuss: Have you found yourself believing the same lie that the most important thing in life is to be happy? Why does walking out appear to be much easier than working through problems with your spouse?

I need not share more. This has deeply moved my heart enough for tonight. I LOVE optimism. I LOVE GOD! If you want change, move on to what GOD has promised you - the next level of spiritual breakthrough. Do not conform to the world. Do not believe the lies. Do not be complacent.

Be real. Be a GOD-lover. Follow HIM all of your ways. Learn to ask forgiveness. Learn to forgive. Love and love some more. Do not stop loving. Give until you love giving.

Make an impact. Make a difference. Make a ripple. Tip the scale.

ALL THE GLORY BELONGS TO GOD ALONE!!!

GOD BLESS YOU ABUNDANTLY! GOD IS ALWAYS WITH YOU - NO MATTER WHAT!

P.U.S.H.

When you feel GOD's love, OVERFLOW!

GO GO GOD!!! (Testimonies)

This is a complete UPDATE!

GO GO GOD! OYEH!

Go go go is my new expression while "OYEH" is derived from one of the kids who joined in Editorial Writing and won second place.

Anyway, I will start from the first day we were in Naga...

February 15

1.) We arrived in Naga around 11am. After registration for the NSPC, we headed to the hotel. We waited for 3 hours. Elisha and I ate our lunch (3 pm lunch) at Tokyo Tokyo (Japanese restaurant). I whispered to her that there was a few rice on my plate. Yes both of us were very hungry. hehehe! They gave my order first so I was able to comment on the rice. hehehe! After a long while, they gave Elisha's order then the lady said, "You can ask as much rice as you desire. We serve unlimited rice today." Let me say that again - UNLIMITED. When GOD gives, it is UNLIMITED. Since we were very hungry, Elisha and I decided to get one more rice and just divide it in half. When she asked for one more, they gave us two halves. It was amazing. When GOD gives, HE gives specifically detailed.

2.) The only pocket/extra money given to us by our school is 1000 pesos. I brought my entire salary for buying "pasalubong." Pasalubong is a Filipino term for things/food bought from a certain place for people back at home. Elisha and I were surprised when they informed us that the fare was changed from 3000 to 3500 so I had to give the extra money we had. After a while, the regional director gave us 1000 pesos from APSOA then she said there'll be an additional 1000 pesos financial assistance from the government. Ain't that neat? GOD is amazing! A GOD OF DOUBLE PORTIONS! Additional testimony - when one of the teachers distributed the financial assistance to each adviser, he gave me 1300 pesos. So there was an additional 300 pesos. GOD IS SO GOOD!!!

3.) A song I've just heard earlier that day that deeply moved me.



4.) I went out of the hotel room earlier this day to acquire network signal in the upper lobby. One of my numbers couldn't acquire signal in our room. I didn't have the key to the door so I asked Elisha if she would sleep. She said no so that was my signal to go out. After a while, she followed me to the lobby, locked the door without the key. By the way, we have 2 roommates there whom we just met there but they're also from our province. Of course, we don't want to be knocking all the time and disturb them from their rest/sleep. So Elisha and I were locked out. hehehe! Suddenly, after a couple of minutes, then came the son of one of our roommates to give the other roommate (a teacher) some pocketbooks he brought. So that's amazing. The guy was truly an answered prayer coz we didn't want to knock twice to disturb the roommates.

5.) Complete revelation for this day's questions:

1 Timothy 4

February 17

The Contest Day. All we could do is pray and worship this day. Elisha and I sent out texts to everyone in our phonebook to pray for her. I woke up praying for the longest time then played the worship songs in my phone. I was nervous, as well. hehehe! A couple of minutes before the contest proper, Elisha and I searched for an isolated spot where we prayed. Oh dear how we were both nervous! I asked for prayers again while she was in the contest room. It was more of the spiritual warfare. Everything can happen while she's writing her piece. There could be injustice or just anything that could ruin everything so I never stopped praying and so did everyone else. I believe so. We needed prayers. Thank you for everyone who prayed for her. She deeply appreciates them. After the contest, she was worried of her writing. She kept asking me some things. In order to forget the worries and just surrendered them to GOD, we did our shopping. hehehe! While we were shopping, I found out that our loyal and loving dog for more than 4 years now named Blessing died. It really broke my heart. Our family is attached to this dog because she always walks with us to the tricycle which is about a 5-minute walk then goes back home after we leave. She is very affectionate. I cried over her. GOD has a purpose! Blessing gave birth to 3 puppies before she died. One female and two males. Now, we're changing the name of the female from Michelle to Blessing. We have a second Blessing.

Our dear Blessing

The new Blessing

February 18

1.) We went to Camarines Sur Watersports Complex. We just stayed the whole afternoon in the hotel. While Elisha was sleeping, I was watching tv. I was watching to a sermon of Joyce Meyer. It was a revelation. It was about Prayer and Words - being connected together. A beautiful insight.

2.) Elisha and I had it all planned out. We decided to stay in the hotel the whole afternoon. We planned to eat dinner then hang out at Mocha Blends. Funny coz we forgot to bring our bottled water with us so we weren't able to drink water for dinner. We walked to Mocha Blends. We were thinking it was self-service like other cafe's. But the guy motioned us to sit then gave us the menu. After we sat, the waiter placed 2 glasses with a bottle of water. We were both amazed. How I thought that it is how our DAD is being affectionate to us by saying, "Drink some water, my dear princesses." So sweet and amazing!


Our advanced celebration of GOD'S VICTORY!!! Elisha's cookies and cream coffee drink and my tiramisu cake. yum!!!

February 19

The Awarding Ceremonies. Since Elisha was worried about her work, I woke up wanting to listen to the song "All Things are Possible." So I played it on my phone. Elisha was singing with it, as well. Before we went to Naga, we were already claiming for GOD's Victory as you know. I never stopped claiming for it and asking for GOD's Will, of course. FYI, Elisha and I were the only "Born Again" Christians in the bus. All the others were Catholics. Before the ceremonies, our team went to Albay to see Mayon Volcano. A tourist attraction in that place. It's beautiful. I will make a separate post of the tourist attractions in that place. hehehe! We were already late for the Awarding Ceremonies. We were informed through text message that Elisha won FIRST PLACE! When she showed me the text message, my heart was beating so fast. She had to call her other friend who was trying to call her. It was real. She really did win FIRST PLACE! Both of us were already crying in the bus. Everyone was looking at us. I called my mom (the school principal) and I was crying when I was informing her. She was crying and screaming, as well. I could hear the entire school rejoicing with us. It was so overwhelming. It is still overwhelming until now. Overwhelmed with joy. When we arrived at the venue, Elisha and I decided to pray. We couldn't help but cry. GOD DID IT ALL! APART FROM HIM, WE ARE NOTHING! HE DESERVES ALL THE GLORY! Elisha would definitely agree with me on this one. She is a very humble girl. When everyone was congratulating her and they kept saying that she's great, she kept saying back, "GOD IS GREAT not me." I was very happy to hear that from a girl in her age. Truly, ALL THE GLORY BELONGS TO GOD ALONE! HE has a purpose why HE brought us that far. To think, that was the very first time that our school has competed for the NSPC. We have only reached the RSPC but this time, GOD WON EVERYTHING! Elisha won FIRST PLACE from DSPC, RSPC to NSPC. GOD IS SO AWESOME!!! We will never know how GOD did it but we know that GOD DID IT ALL!

February 20

I am so amazed that we made new friends who have seen JESUS CHRIST in us. ALL THE GLORY BELONGS TO GOD ALONE!!! GOD has truly humbled us so that we can only glorify HIM!!! Funny because before we went to our respective homes, I was teasing Elisha that my mom would have a streamer made for her or better yet a TARPAULIN! Then she giggled. What she loves doing - giggle. hahaha! I went to school before I went home, my uncle informed me that my mom will have a TARPAULIN made for her. With her picture on it. Amazing! GOD TRULY WANTS THE BEST FOR HIS CHILDREN!

GO FOR GOLD! GO FOR GOD! OUR GOD IS A GOD OF EXCELLENCE!

We not only have testimonies, we also have lessons learned. I will have a separate post on this one. From ELISHA RANDEE VARGAS and me, THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRAYERS! GOD TRULY LISTENS!

Make an impact. Make a difference. Make a ripple. Tip the scale.

ALL THE GLORY BELONGS TO GOD ALONE!!!

GOD BLESS YOU ABUNDANTLY! GOD IS ALWAYS WITH YOU - NO MATTER WHAT!

P.U.S.H.

When you feel GOD's love, OVERFLOW!

How Can You Forgive Someone...

who does not ask for forgiveness???

A thought to ponder on. Sometimes, others think we are hard hearted since we just ignore people who have sinned against us. But the question remains...did they ask forgiveness? And to complicate things, instead of just saying genuinely, "I'm Sorry", some add more to it such as blaming others or something and more excuses. Genuine humility is when you're satisfied enough to just say "I'm Sorry." If we truly are real Christians, when we know we have committed mistakes to our brothers and sisters, we must be humble enough to ask for their forgiveness. That is what humility is about. If we know how to ask forgiveness from our FATHER, we should know how to ask forgiveness from our brothers and sisters, as well. Humility and love is also considering what we have done to others. Think about it. Ponder. Ponder. Ponder.

A quickie post.

Friday, February 20, 2009

GO GO GOD!

Go go go - my new expression!

I just came home after an 18-hour trip and I'm too excited to inform you all that ELISHA RANDEE VARGAS won FIRST PLACE in Editorial Writing at the National Schools Press Conference! She wants to extend her gratitude to everyone who prayed for her. We thank you all for the support in your prayers. GOD LISTENS TO HIS CHILDREN!

GOD IS SO AWESOMELY GOOD!!!

GOD IS OUR VICTORY!!! IT IS ALL GOD!!! HE DID IT!!! APART FROM HIM, WE ARE NOTHING!!!

I will update on this post soon as we have not only brought the GOLD but also testimonies of GOD'S AMAZING LOVE AND FAVOR. For now, I need to rest. hehehe!