used up

this morning started very slow and lazy. probably due to the gloomy weather brought about by the low pressure in this tropical country of ours. love rainy days on a monday :-). after I've had my journal and prayer time, i began to surf around my favorite bloggers and i was so blessed by what charissa wrote on her blog. she was reflecting her own personal experiences about her own family and her commitment to our Jesus and her words touched my heart so much. 

she wrote:

 More than ever my heart needs its God. Not one of small stories or tidy boxes but one strong enough to sustain me in the face of grief and be my reason for celebrating. He is there and I’m continuing to learn him in a new way through new stages. I want to remember how this process of breaking into new territory feels. Will I ever understand all His ways? No. Not in their fulness. Lately he has chosen? permitted? not intervened? in ways I don’t understand...... His blend of power and reticence, action and restraint seems so paradoxical at times.

When I die, when all of these remembrances are tomorrow,  I want to be all used up.

 want everything I have; every ounce of bodily strength, every bit of passion, every possession to be given away to someone who needs it more.

What is the purpose of life if not to pour yourself out like an offering for someone else? To give comfort to one who feels alone? To grieve with one who has an aching heart? To put yourself and your preferences to the side for the sake of another?

God has an amazing way of talking to us. when i am least giving and think more about myself he consistently let his Holy Spirit speak into my heart. and like charissa i find myself thinking that his ways are paradoxical and i won't ever understand fully, all of his ways. but i am so willing to be all used up. to be part of what he is mightily doing now. 

heavenly declaration

two days ago i travelled with my brother-in-law, carsten and friend, jori back to my birth island. my sister decided that dedicating pipa (my niece) near relatives and in our home church is the way to do it. so we squeezed in the weekend to go home. jori is one of the god-parents (who'll give lots and lots of gifts and also ensure she has educational plan, medical insurance, etc. hahaha!). our flight was scheduled at 5:50 am and so we groggily make our way to the airport. a little cup of coffee perked me up which is truly good because if not for that cup i would have been sleeping through this AWESOME and AMAZING creation. 

this is one of those moments where God's word comes to life!

the heavens declare the glory of God;
    the skies proclaim the work of his hands.

day after day they pour forth speech;
    night after night they reveal knowledge.
 they have no speech, they use no words;
    no sound is heard from them.

In the heavens God has pitched a tent for the sun.

It is like a bridegroom coming out of his chamber,

like a champion rejoicing to run his course.

It rises at one end of the heavens

and makes its circuit to the other;

nothing is deprived of its warmth.

psalms 19:-6

all photos were shot using my samsung galaxy mega 5.8

calmly plan it

i spent the first 4 days of my last week in a place where there're plenty of coconut trees, curvy roads, steep hills, rocky sands & lots of people who are passionate advocates for children. 

i was actually expecting this planning summit to be stressful and hectic. it was far from that. there were some pressing issues but all was discussed in a calm and precised manner as expected of every compassion (when clicking the site of compassion there is a disclaimer, please proceed. i assure you it is completely safe) related meetings/conference.

just up the hill where we're staying

1st day arrival : dusk

7:00 am : 2nd day

noon: 2nd day

7:00 : last day

rocky shoreline: 3rd day

all photos were shot using my samsung galaxy mega 5.8

reflections: singli mountain resort

reflections for our staffs before the year 2014 started. a very late post. ministry to children is rewarding but it has its moments when even i question if the things that we do makes a difference in the lives of the parents and the kids.
but it does make a difference. i do see changes not just with the kids but also in the lives of the staff that i work with.
in my observation we have become more gracious, more patient & decidedly intentional in our ministry.
our christian lives is a always a progressive one. we continue to grow. in our love. in our compassion. in our desire to to be more like our Savior.

this was a weekend of reflections and renewed goals for us. also a little bit of fun

all photos courtesy of jore millan

reflecting: is it dinner yet? 

because of who you are I give you glory....

fun during devotions

the mountains & the skies declares God's glory (my own translation of a bible verse)

coffee on the mountain top

scary laugh. fear of heights

the amazing group i work with everyday. 

sorry chelda, ethel's pose is much more interesting. haha

 

bff's

  

required jump shot :-)

instagram photos for january 2014

sharing these photos of my january. and fyi, january 5 is my birthday. God has been really good. through a lot of issues and struggles He has been faithful. 

january has come and gone and a lot of prayers has been answered. there are still some major ones that are lining up but whatever His answer to those heart-felt requests i know he has his purpose. i have been constantly reminded of this by the person i love that God's ways are not ours and that we just have to trust him.

i do trust him. i am learning to trust more. like the lady in the bible with a sick son that said to Jesus, "i have faith, help me to believe more"!

so here goes some of my january ig (@bossy11) moments. 

1. local salad from bee farm in bohol (i did not eat all of that cause i was thinking that those purple and yellow flower grows in my backyard and for 30 something years i never thought they were edible!) 2. selfie, bro-in-law took me and sister to a wonderful dinner 3. sister  4. alona beach in panglao  

5. some randome fire dancers by the beach one night 6. birthday dinner with two sister and bro-in-law 7. teaching korean guests our native tinikling dance 8. late birthday dinner with my d-group ladies (so blessed to have them in my life!

9. up on a railing in singli mountain resort in cebu 10. selfie, post manny paquaio dinner 11. journaling in bo's coffee, while waiting for my meeting buddies to arrive 12. ate lanie and bachochay

13. margie and i (yin and yang. lol) 14. my lovely cutie pie niece (fruit/watermelon ninja @ 5 mos.) 15. a tbt photo. dinner with two sis where i ordered wayyyyyy much more than i usually have! 16. braided hair by emelyn dearie!

first red lips selfie! haha

another throwback photo. this was during my sister's wedding.

flappy bird, grrrr.

please don't tell me I am not the only one affected by a flappy bird. say, you're with me please.  i wanna know if i am still normal. 

i have installed and uninstalled this app for more than once. 

all i can say is that, if you wanna learn to be patient, this can be your therapy (just beware. bwahaha). if you have anger management issues though, stay away

wanna know my highest score? (i bet you were silently saying, no! lol) well, im telling you anyway, it's 7. believe me you'll have felt a lot of emotion before you get to that score. haha. 

silaob 2014

it is always a challenge to design a program or event that will be celebrated every year. but the youth leaders of mactan cathedral of faith kick started this event called SILAOB. the words means AFLAME. it was and will be a Feast of sorts. the idea was that during the Old Testament times (biblical times) the israelites has always celebrated  important moments by having feast. so they reason, why don't we do that. God is faithful - it is a HUGE reason  for celebration. thus, SILAOB.

it is a celebration of the young people's passion for Jesus Christ! a jubilatio of His goodness and faithfulness! an expression of the mcof youth's desire to reach out and spread His love in all of their community and prayerfully, beyond that. 

here are some photos courtesy of adams pepito

concept by: richard, photo courtesy of dianne

worship time

margie & bachochay. notice the "anapog-filled" background, it will be flattened & paved soon

izhar did what izhar do best: amaze people!

  

cindy's first time to challenge her youth members to not be shy to testify about their faith

future pastor?

braving the crowd. overcoming shyness for the Lord!

waka-waka eh eh? 

:-))))))))

sweet & renee 

reflections

prayers

AJ shares God's Word

Add caption

clean up time!

1 Timothy 4:12

12 Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity.