Woke up early. Thank God it rained last night. Today's weather is even cloudy. I hope it continues to rain.

Afternoon at house. Summer's really in, it's freakin' hot in my room. School's officially out. Yesterday dropped of my last paper for a class. This semester was really a toxic one, actually my life as a whole. Dealt with school, work, ministry plus emotional ups and downs. Thank God it's over.

I've been praying together with my D-group my desire to do freelance work this summer now that I have more free time. And praise God, as of the moment I have five potential projects with three already in progress. Thank You, Lord. You are so good to me.

I remember my conversations with Kuya Sur back then about walking in faith. "How does the secure walk in faith?" And I remember what we came up with - contentment. Simple yet profound. But still did not keep me from being selfishly ambitious. Though these experiences for the past semesters have NOT been all bad. There are good days and bad days to learn from. I am very grateful for He's patience and love, that even though some people would eventually give up on you (which I totally understand because they are also human like me) He is still there... still.

Still

Hide me now | Under your wings | Cover me | within your mighty hand

[+] When the oceans rise and thunders roar | I will soar with you above the storm | Father you are king over the flood | I will be still and know you are God

Find rest my soul | In Christ alone | Know his power | In quietness and trust

[Classmates: Erene, me and Mutya]

Last night after class. Somehow by some freak coincidence we decided to wear the same color at the same time. Pink was really the color of the day at school. That's me not making pa-cute, but I was in a hurry because I can see my classmates already leaving for our after sem fellowship. I was like "hey wait for me!"


[L-R: Kuya Rey, me, Kuya Ron (unseen: Kuya Manny), Kuya Alex & wife, Kuya Jae & Kuya Jun]

After sem dinner fellowship with OT class at Dampa, Macapagal Ave.

My Favorite Things #7 - Interview with God Movies

www.InterviewWithGod.com

I just remembered the website called Interview with God which features inspiring presentations about God and life. I just discovered that there are more online movies made after that. A fusion of words and breath-taking pictures compose the movie's inspiring messages that gives it's audience peace and faith. Notable movie's are "Interview with God 1" and "Forgiven". A good share, and it's free. You can also listen to Rebecca Robert's soothing piano masterpieces featured in the movies.

My Favorite Things #6 - Happy Days - Filipino pop icon tees, Red Lane, G4 (Thanks Erene!)
My Favorite Things #5 - The Big Chill - Fruit Shakes, watermelon shake for hot summer
My Favorite Things #4 - She's the Man - Amanda Bynes movie
My Favorite Things #3 - Yellow Cab Pizza's Pistachio Ice Cream
My Favorite Things #2 - Chronicles of Narnia
My Favorite Things #1 - Demitri Martin

Interview with God

I dreamed I had an interview with God.

"So you would like to interview me?" God asked.

"If you have the time" I said.

God smiled. "My time is eternity."
"What questions do you have in mind for me?"

"What surprises you most about humankind?"

God answered...
"That they get bored with childhood,
they rush to grow up, and then
long to be children again."

"That they lose their health to make money...
and then lose their money to restore their health."

"That by thinking anxiously about the future,
they forget the present,
such that they live in neither
the present nor the future."

"That they live as if they will never die,
and die as though they had never lived."

God's hand took mine
and we were silent for a while.

And then I asked...
"As a parent, what are some of life's lessons
you want your children to learn?"

"To learn they cannot make anyone
love them. All they can do
is let themselves be loved."

"To learn that it is not good
to compare themselves to others."

"To learn to forgive
by practicing forgiveness."

"To learn that it only takes a few seconds
to open profound wounds in those they love,
and it can take many years to heal them."

"To learn that a rich person
is not one who has the most,
but is one who needs the least."

"To learn that there are people
who love them dearly,
but simply have not yet learned
how to express or show their feelings."

"To learn that two people can
look at the same thing
and see it differently."

"To learn that it is not enough that they
forgive one another, but they must also forgive themselves."

"Thank you for your time," I said humbly.

"Is there anything else
you would like your children to know?"

God smiled and said,
"Just know that I am here... always."

-author unknown

Though the cherry trees don't blossom
and the strawberries don't ripen,
Though the apples are worm-eaten
and the wheat fields stunted,
Though the sheep pens are sheepless
and the cattle barns empty,
I'm singing joyful praise to GOD.
I'm turning cartwheels of joy to my Savior God.

- Habakkuk 3:17-18 (The Message)

Now that's a challenge. Keeping your mouth shut while waiting for God's visitation is one thing. But "turning cartwheels of joy" to God? Lord please teach me this virtue.

This is a facial representation of what I think about the day today and you might know what.

We are Pentecostals - Spirit-filled believers who believes in the active part of the Holy Spirit in empowering His people. But yet how come we supress the workings of the Holy Spirit? How dare we put Him in a man-made box as if He could be tamed?! In our worship we have moved away from His sovereign leading to less than five minutes of Spirit-time or much worse - none at all. We pray without a clear purpose that is allowing God to work in His omnipotence His plans for world redemption. We treat God as a "celestial vending machine" whom we kick if He doesn't give out. Why do we pray? We are worse than robots in a sense that robots never grow tired of their task. Look at us. Less than an hour of keeping watch at our Master and our legs grow restless like a hot dog. Let us pray that we will not fall into temptation. True, how can one pray with much fervor and passion if one is not empowered to believe, to be certain of what is invisible? God's Spirit is not tame, my brothers, He is wild but good. We speak of conquests, revivals, and transformations which will never happen if we do not yield ourselves - broken vessels, willing vessels to be used in His kingdom. There's a growing trend of spiritual apathy in the Church today. We are failing to step up as a Body, a Nation whom God has chosen to become the light into darkness. I pray that when He returns we will not be caught naked - lazy and shameful servants engrossed with self-serving and short-sighted motives. Nevertheless, come Lord Jesus.

Woke up 11AM today. After lunch I went to Makati to pick up Weng's camera. After yesterday's negotiation when to get the memory card, much to her kind annoyance because I was very 'eager' to see the pictures of our organized event. I planned on shopping today at Glorietta. It's whole day sale until tomorrow. Just then, I realized, I left my credit card at home. An engot moment there. I didn't bring any cash with me. So I was only able to buy 2 shirts from Happy Days printed "Pinoy Rock" and "Juan dela Cruz Band".

Prayer meeting this evening. For sometime now, I've been almost grew cold of our prayer meetings. Short worship, group by twos and pray. Next week same. Next week still the same. I've been thirsting for a new wine from God. And tonight He made it so...

Waiting On You Again

by Casey Corum & Brent Helming
Vineyard Music "Dwell"

I've been down this road so many times before | And here I am on this road again | I'm asking for mercy in spite of my sin | Oh Lord, You are the only One who loves me this way

[+] Here I am | Here I am | Waiting on You again | Waiting on You again

Lord, Your faithful love is watching over me | Though I often try and turn the other way | But now I come in surrender to Your unchanging grace | Oh Lord, You are the only One who loves me this way

Watched movie today at Glorietta. Saw She's The Man starring Amanda Bynes from Nickelodeon. This movie is a modern adaptation of the comedy Twelfth Night by William Shakespeare. Despite it's teeny movie style, movie was real fun and entertaining. Had been anticipating it after I saw it's trailer and back in highschool I played Sebastian in the play.

"The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by hands. And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything, because he himself gives all men life and breath and everything else."

- Paul
(Acts 17:24-25)

My Top 5 American Idol Finalists (who cares right? whatever... hehe). Mind you, AI4 winner Carrie Underwood was my bet since Day 1 and she won.

You're the One

From "Chronicles of Narnia" Original Soundtrack
by Chris Tomlin

I heard Your song coming over the hill | I knew it seemed like the world stood still | You were singin a melody that caught me by surprise | Yeah it sounded familiar to me, like I'd known it all my life

And I keep looking down as I move in closer | My heart is racing now with fear and wonder | Could I come back to You so long on my own | From where I am, I know this is not my home

[+] You're the one I believe | A king, and friend has always been holding onto me | You're the one that I have seen | Your life and death the endless breath breathing into me | Just the mention of Your name and I know, I know I've found love | 'Cause You're the one

High in a hidden world is where You are found | Where every living thing circles around | I find myself again where I used to be | With the rescued ones falling on my knees

[-] In Your presense there is mercy | In the fear, joy and the tears | It's Your goodness that keeps on, keeps on calling us here | Drawing us near

It's a great morning here at office. Came in a little late 'cause I didn't have the car so I took the train.

Yesterday's sectional joint fellowship we organized was great. Yesterday's word of the day was "so far so good." Every sectional event more churches are participating so that's great.

I'm finally getting a clearer picture of the direction I need to take (I have to discuss this further next time). Thanks to a series of small but significant events that happened this week. I really praise God. Wow. This is really great. One and the most important encounter was God's Word for me yesterday morning. It was before sunrise. I slept late that night. But somehow I woke up at 4:30AM not feeling sleepy. I knew something was going on, God woke me up to fellowship with Him. And I did. For the first time in the longest time I had this peace and assurance that He still moves mountains. He led me to a scripture in Job that speaks of even in times of trouble, "I know that my Redeemer lives." And He also led me to Psalm 139, that says He is "intimately acquainted" with me and He has "enclosed me behind and before." Those words took my breath away. God is so good. All the time!

My fast ends today. Praise the Lord!!!

Psalm 139

1 O LORD, You have searched me and known me.
2 You know when I sit down and when I rise up;
You understand my thought from afar.
3 You scrutinize my path and my lying down,
And are intimately acquainted with all my ways.
4 Even before there is a word on my tongue,
Behold, O LORD, You know it all.
5 You have enclosed me behind and before,
And laid Your hand upon me.
6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me;
It is too high, I cannot attain to it.
7 Where can I go from Your Spirit?
Or where can I flee from Your presence?
8 If I ascend to heaven, You are there;
If I make my bed in Sheol, behold, You are there.
9 If I take the wings of the dawn,
If I dwell in the remotest part of the sea,
10 Even there Your hand will lead me,
And Your right hand will lay hold of me.
11 If I say, "Surely the darkness will overwhelm me,
And the light around me will be night,"
12 Even the darkness is not dark to You,
And the night is as bright as the day
Darkness and light are alike to You.
13 For You formed my inward parts;
You wove me in my mother's womb.
14 I will give thanks to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
Wonderful are Your works,
And my soul knows it very well.
15 My frame was not hidden from You,
When I was made in secret,
And skillfully wrought in the depths of the earth;
16 Your eyes have seen my unformed substance;
And in Your book were all written
The days that were ordained for me,
When as yet there was not one of them.
17 How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God!
How vast is the sum of them!
18 If I should count them, they would outnumber the sand
When I awake, I am still with You.
19 O that You would slay the wicked, O God;
Depart from me, therefore, men of bloodshed.
20 For they speak against You wickedly,
And Your enemies take Your name in vain.
21 Do I not hate those who hate You, O LORD?
And do I not loathe those who rise up against You?
22 I hate them with the utmost hatred;
They have become my enemies.
23 Search me, O God, and know my heart;
Try me and know my anxious thoughts;
24 And see if there be any hurtful way in me,
And lead me in the everlasting way.

Woke up early today for no reason. This week I've been wrapping up school. Only a few more requirements to complete in my last subject then I'm done. I so wanted to get this semester over and done so I could start anew. This series of my young adult life had been crazy, idle and fleeting. Lots of things going on in my mind. Mind warfare, what if's, decisions, plans which accomplishes nothing. For one, I've been thinking of my current status in life. After Missions Week, I got positive feedbacks about my designs for our exhibit. And I thought, God gave me this talent. Why am I suppressing it, by drawing away from it. For sometime now, after I left design as a professional job to seek a more 'godly' pursuit (more like martyr-ical depravation), my pursuit in 'serving' God 'full-time' led me barely a steps away from where I, the person, was. I wanted to prove that I could give up anything 'for God', which I think is an egotistic pursuit on my part. I thought, does my present state a viable witness for Christ? Perhaps, I'm too hard on myself. For now, I'm confused. (Temporarily halted due to confusion)... Was God talking to me then before I jumped aboard? Am I just cowardly backing-out of the circumstances placed in front of me? God please clear my mind. I want to be where you want me to be.

In my mind, I want to do freelance work again, free time, own time, good money. Own time means time for ministry. Good money means resources for ministry.

(Top: Patrick, Erene, Soma & Jonathan; Bottom: Vrishni, Mutya & Isaac)

After production (Missions Week) late dinner and celebration at Shakey's Blue Wave.

ASCM Missions Week is finally over. IT WAS A BLAST! We accomplished our purpose to create awareness within campus grounds and fund-raise for the missionary we're going to support. We had a missions exhibit, room to room awareness and prayer, we did two mission chapel services and a fund-raising concert. It was the first class project I most definitely enjoyed. We should have more of these stuff in other classes (well, these are highschool stuff). Hats off to the team who worked beyond what was required of them, and to take note that we are all masteral students. Most of all, I made some good friends along the way... Thank You Lord!


It's A New Season

[+] It's a new season | It's a new day | A fresh anointing is flowing my way | It's a season of power and prosperity | It's a new season and it's coming to me

The devil's time is up no longer can he bother me | 'Cause the controller of the universe He fathers me | And it's transferable Your children's children will be free | It's a new season

If you don't know but now You need to know it's jubilee | When debts are cancelled and Your children walk in victory | It's all available to You right now just taste and see | It's a new season

The new millenium presents a new horizon | And no greater time to make a choice and take us in | All that we need is resting safely in the Master's hands | It's a new season

All that was stolen is returned to you a hundredfold | Tried in the fire but you're coming out, go! | [When to His hand], yes to every promise, take a hold | It's a new season

Missions week at school this week. Our class in missions are spearheading the events. I was assigned to work on print and media, it was fun working on it. Plus working together bonded classmates more. Praise God.

Last Sunday I saw Memoirs of Geisha. Finally was able to watch a movie (since Narnia). It was a shock that movie tickets cost P120 regardless of your seat of choice. Points go to pirated DVDs. I like the subtlety of Memoirs, though the movie was dominated by women actors, I enjoyed watching the mentoring development between apprentice Sayuri (Zhang Zi Yi) and big sister Mameha (Michelle Yeo).