well, not in a creepy way, i mean. it's just that there are some things in my life where i have re-arranged to get right back on track. Before, i knew i was hitting the road well, but, suddenly it seemed to become so hazy, blurry and full of rocks. i never realized those things plus a few distractions that came my way. they're not sin per se; however, the moment i laid my eyes upon them, i was very lured and in turn slowed down my course of journey as a Christian. my relationship with the Lord has faced a traffic sign of yellow light...for quite some time, and it's not benefiting me anymore. i really was slowing down! probably if i'd still be giving too much attention on those matters til now, the belief of being "focused" just on the Lord and what He wants me to be will only be a flat-out delusion.
it's not that i'm saying that the ride's already smooth, without hassle and like i'm now on the go, but i'm just so thankful to the Almighty Father for using some situations in my life to take some time to contemplate and make an immediate action plan about it. it's very difficult to let go of these things that so easily entangle me because they have grown on me already. again, it's not as easy as releasing or throwing away an object/non-living material...and this is what makes me shut my eyes in exasperation and in mercy of the Lord to help me because i currently am tapering of letting go of my weaknesses. step by step i'm gonna move forward by the grace of God and i'll be fruitful if i continue to fix my eyes upon Jesus, the Author and Perfecter of my faith. this doesn't mean i'll become bitter toward those situations, it's just that i'm taking one step at a time and not pushing myself to happen what i WANT to happen. i allow the Lord to let this transformation take place in my life right now matched with an active faith ;)
i'm doing great now, thank God! i'm ok with that thing (i guess) because for now, that's what the Lord wills in my life. just enjoying that feeling but now i'm more conscious not to be driven too much with it, making my relationship with my Savior and Bestfriend Jesus Christ get affected. now the Lord is teaching me to just trust in the peace that He has given me as i continue to seek and aim for the highest calling that He has for me. little by little He's revealing Himself more to me...His plans; i find His presence sweeter everyday and i don't wanna miss these experiences for the world for this is far more eternal and rewarding.
hallelujah! i declare victory! victory! victory!
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kanina my boss has given his permission for me to join the youth mission trip at guinyangan, quezon. praise God!!! it will be on May 23-27. mahaba-haba ito! mukhang aalisin talaga ako ni Lord sa comfort zone! pero ok lang, i know naman na as i experience it all, God's love will still rest upon my soul.
this is my very first time engaging in such trip and i'm so excited because i've been keeping my options open to what the Lord would want in my life...and this includes being in missions. in my heart i strongly believe the Lord will send me somewhere someday, i just don't know when, how and where. all i am holding to right now is my desire and longing to glorify Him as i reach the upward call. in due time the Lord will confirm it to me...in His perfect time.
since my co-bloggers here (arra and josh) already gave their personal blow-by-blow account of what they've experienced during the FMCC Family Camp 2007, well...yours truly would also like to give her a similar yet with a different kind of flavor report regarding the breath-taking summer event.
excitement >>> i get ecstatic everytime i attend a meeting that will be discussing the camp. ecstatic and tired, actually. honestly, just thinking about it especially that i am one of the people who will serve the Lord and participate in doing this and that at the camp, it makes me tired. people at work would say that i'll be having a "vacation" this coming holy week. well, in my defense, i have explained little our event to my co-staff - what we're gonna do and how busy yet amazing it will be. pretty much i have convinced her naman. :)
Youth Revive Cells >>> fruit of the holy spirit kasi ang pinangalan sa mga different cells; and the name of our group - PEACE. akmang-akma sa akin kasi marami akong pinag-iiisip, masyadong maraming inaalala. kaya pinanghahawakan ko talaga and i really embrace our group's name. sabi nga eh we become what our name beholds. Phil 4:6-7 ang group verse namin. :) i've learned lots of things when my co-youth leader and i handled our group. hindi lang ako ung nagturo, marami akong na-realize and i was indeed blessed by the different testimonies that my members have declared. the power of the Lord goes deep into the lives of His people kaya unbelievable mga revelations Niya sa bawat isa sa amin. i miss our group kahit in a short span of time lang kami nag-bond. praise God!
Revival Nights >>> matindi na to! I've known Ptr Dennis Teague in preaching short but very substantial messages, creates a whole new different impact on things about the Lord.
a. Praise and Worship >>> Zion definitely is a place of singing! This part of every service is what I'm always expecting for because personally, this is one of my best ways (hallelujah!) wherein I'd give my everything that has once belonged to the world. Weariness has no room during those nights for every soul in that auditorium was touched by the move of the holy spirit and was deeply ministered through the songs. Hosanna, hosanna...You are the God who saves us, You're worthy of all our praises!
b. Specific Prayers >>> I was astounded on how great the timing of the Lord was during those altar callings to everyone. Particularly those really specific prayers, these were not pre-empted nor being spoken to the team of Ptr. Dennis prior to the Revival Nights since the people needing those kind of prayers came from different churches and most probably would never occur to them that they should be bringing that up to the team. Pero the Lord is just amazing; even someone with pain on the toe was discerned by Ptr Dennis' wife, Sis. Dianne.
>>> During this part of the revival night, I was able to respond to 2 of the altar callings. The first one was about those who are part of the Music Ministry. Without having second thoughts, I immediately walked up front and asked for a double portion of anointing from the Lord so He could use me as a holy and pleasing vessel, pure and blameless before His Throne. Only by the Lord's grace we can only minister to the congregation through worship/music. There's nothing we can boast of, including our skills/talents for the Lord doesn't count what we possess, but how our hearts are before Him as He searches right through us. The second altar calling was for the ones who are interested/inclined to computer technology or whose courses involve computer. Again, I responded to the call and received blessing as He uses me in the cyberspace for His glory and pleasure. This was applied 2 Saturday nights ago at church, I was unexpectedly assigned (actually reliever ako) to do the newsletter. I have no confidence doing it though I always have the desire making a layout. By the grace of the Lord and praise Him, for though there was pressure included since due to certain circumstances I was only able to start doing it around 10:30pm, the newsletter came out good. For the first time, I was satisfied with what our youth pastor and I did.
c. Tunnel of Fire >>> 98-100% of my brothers and sisters in Christ would say that this is their most memorable part of the camp. And I couldn't blame them, because this has made a vast impact on my life as well. If you want to know how this tunnel of fire works, please check arra or josh's blog. Haha! The moment I entered the tunnel, with my feet standing and knees not shaking, I thought I could go through the tunnel without getting any extreme manifestation of the holy spirit. God has vindicated me wrong this time. He really is a mysterious God and He works it out in a very unexpected manner. By the time i was laid hands upon by the 3rd pair of pastors, I began to feel something intense and grumbling in my tummy. Nope, it wasn’t a call of nature. You could feel it if you do have THAT urgency to go but this intance, I was confident that it wasn't what we think that it was. It was like something was being chastened within me, painful but I was seeing it in a totally different perspective. The enemy tried to knock my thoughts that an evil spirit is dwelling in me that's why the manifestation was so intense. But the Lord has given me peace that as I went through the tunnel, He is purging me. Uhhh...deliverance? Siguro. As I spoke in tongues, I also kept on shouting and crying out to the Lord to consume me, take everything that is within me and leave nothing for I belong to Him alone. It's like I'm embracing Him and I desire to be cleansed so I could be pure and fit for the Master's use. There's nothing else that I would want to do than to please Him in all areas of my life.
After saying those phrases, I felt that really, the Lord was consuming all the impurities of my life and purifying my thoughts and heart, and that’s the time I couldn't move anymore and surrendered myself to the Lord. I fell into His glorious presence. You can never withstand His glory and can never contain it - one way or another you're gonna need to let it out and release into His majestic presence. Amazing.
***This blog has been long overdue since the camp finished 2 weeks ago. Though the experience of that camping was already a history, the fire, encoruagement and anointing that we have received there will always remain burning passionately in our lives and impart it to the people around us by His grace. Darkness needs a light. And the Lord has granted us the fire that He has kindled in us to bring forth and declare to others the beauty of having an eternal life with Jesus Christ.
Hallelujah!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Raise up the victory banner of the Almighty God!
