The Vine

Source: Karen's Whimsy

John 15:1-2  (NCV) I am the true vine; my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch of mine that does not produce fruit. And he trims and cleans every branch that produces fruit so that it will produce even more fruit.

Happy Day 6!

The one week fasting is almost over and it happened so fast I felt like my life just flashed before my eyes. Today, I thought it was a Friday only to realize that it's a Wednesday! It's a LONG week because I never realized that I had so much time but in a way, it also felt so fast because everything's just happening one after the other. I just felt like everything's moving so fast but in a slow-mo moment.

Anyway, I'm blogging because these past few days, God just kept pounding my heart, breaking it into a billion pieces. I feel hurt and torn but also at peace and well-loved. Weird? YES! God has been dealing with me and different issues of my heart that I didn't know I had before --well, I knew I had them I just didn't know how to deal with them and now, God is answering my prayers and as He deals with my issues, I really feel torn apart but so thankful for the whole thing. I feel torn apart because the process is painful: rejection, disappointments and a whole lot others but the thankfulness comes with the fact that I am part of the vine! I am part of the vine and Jesus is trimming me! He is cleaning everything that hinders me from bearing fruit and I can sincerely claim that He is pushing me to go for a next level of walk with Him.

Daniel 3:17-18 (NCV) If you throw us into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from the furnace. He will save us from your power, O king. But even if God does not save us, we want you, O king, to know this: We will not serve your gods or worship the gold statue you have set up."

Last night, I read 1 Peter 5 but because I couldn't feel that God is clearly speaking to me through that bible chapter, I decided to seek a different book. I wanted to read Nahum but when I passed by the Book of Daniel, I felt God telling me to read chapter 3 and I highlighted that part.

As God is trimming me from the inside, He is also planting a heart of no compromise in me! A heart that seeks to honor Him more than anything else in this world. I know I can't do that but only through grace alone but I am amazed and humbled by the things God is doing to me even if it can be very painful at the moment. He is looking at something that is eternal, so the pain is temporary but the character that will be refined as I feel the fire consume me is something that will last forever.

Hunger Pangs

Credits to: The Daily Green

It's DAY 4 of Prayer and Fasting!

The past few days had been AWESOME. I definitely feel weaker than before and working, analyzing and just doing the stuff I'm supposed to do here in the office adds a bit to the mental-gymnastics but that's not the point of praying and fasting. I fast and pray because I want to be hungry and be filled with the Holy Spirit. 2012 has come and what better way to start the year is to seek Him. God is on top of my priority list.

Just to share a gist of what happened the past few days, I've attend the daily prayer meetings at the VCF Pioneer Mainhall every 7pm to 9pm. I always arrive when the worship team is already singing and everyone is on their feet worshiping the Lord. I position myself in a corner where I can seat on the floor and rest my back on the wall. I prefer that because it makes me feel at home which makes the whole worship experience more personal. So as I rest my back on the whole, for the past worships, I've been crying my heart out in thanksgiving and praise to Him! He has come through for me so much and I feel so undeserving to have Him and receive His mercy and grace yet you can feel His presence there, beside you.

I've met Jona in the 2nd day of Prayer and Fasting. She's a new believer who is excited to be water baptized. I'm amazed at how meek and peaceful she is, taking the moment that even if she's alone, she went ahead and showed up to worship the Lord. AMAZING! The joy of worship isn't about the friends you have beside you but just that moment of singing and praising the God who created the world who cared enough to send His Son, Jesus Christ, to set you free from your sins. It's a memorable moment to just watch her sing and worship. I can't help but feel so blessed that God is calling out different people from different walks of life, regardless of age, all empowered by the Holy Spirit.

Yesterday is my first meeting with my Victory Group (VG). I discussed with them Exodus 17. I'll most probably a separate post on it but the whole point of Exodus 17 for me is how God asking us to come before Him, surrendering and obeying His will. In surrendering to God, there is victory! I personally experienced that last Saturday (Day 2) when I surrendered something that is BEYOND me. I can't act on it personally and I can't go to places. I felt so powerless and unable but God is really true to His promise that if I surrender it to God, He is faithful to help you! He came through. I thank God for answering my prayers!

A whole lot more have happened in the past three (3) days and because it's Day 4, only God knows what is to come! I know that God has prepared new surprises today and I trust Him that He will be with me in every step of the way.

Psalm 37:23-24

When people's steps follow the Lord, God is pleased with their ways.

If they stumble, they will not fall, because the Lord holds their hand.

Just want to share a song from Matt Redman:

More of Him, Less of me

Seven days of Prayer and Fasting!


Every year, our church, Victory Christian Fellowship (VCF), holds a seven-day prayer and fasting just a few days after the New Year celebration. It's a good kick-off for the year to seek God and ask for guidance and grace for the whole year. It's a season of going hungry not for the purpose of diet and to lose the holiday flabs but to be filled with the Holy Spirit.

The first time I heard about this, I was very excited. It's 2010 and I felt that I want to join but partially hesitating. Because of my lack of enthusiasm and want to participate, I wasn't able to complete the one-week fasting and just felt like I'm more of dieting than actually praying and fasting. Fasting without prayer is dieting, by the way.

So when 2011 came, I really prepared myself not realizing that God was preparing me more. Days before the scheduled date, I've slowly loss apetite. I didn't bother eating much and I wanted to eat more fruits than actual meals and a day before, somebody told me that the fasting starts tomorrow! Of course I panicked. Last year was a mess and I don't want to mess up this year but by His grace alone everything went well. I had an amazing encounter and I feel so blessed to fast and pray and worship Him with an empty stomach with a full heart.

2011 has been an amazing year and I felt that fasting is a great way to kick-off the year which is why I'm participating in the fast again this year. I know it's becoming an annual thing but I have to say that even if it is an annual thing, it's not the same every year. This year, I have more specific goals and I have more things that I'm praying for. Things that I believe God is planting in my heart! Yesterday is the official day when the fasting starts and after attending the prayer and worship last night.. WOW. I feel so blessed.

This is just me being me... taking a picture of my "Angry Bird" with the "DAY 1" I made myself! hahahaha

When I came to the new Pioneer Center last night, I have a lot in mind, burdens and annoyances, concerns and crazy thoughts but as we all worshiped and prayed, slowly I felt my knees giving away and my eyes crying like there's no tomorrow. God speaking directly into my heart and I felt that He loves me, He cares for me and that I seriously need Him more than anything or anyone else in my life. It's difficult to explain the encounter I had with God but more than anything else, I just feel so blessed, so loved and so happy that I can worship God forever.

It's just Day 1 and I'm believing for more encounter this coming days! Praises to God!!! :)

Here Comes 2012!!

Happy New Year!

I have never imagined that 2011 will go by so fast. I, honestly, can still remember how 2011 started. It was simple and cousins stayed at our place for the new year. We were teasing each other, laughing and had to buy more than two bags of chips because my cousins and nephew are consuming it like rice. Then fast forward to my September which is the month of my birth where my expressed couldn't be drawn by any pencil, ballpen, maybe an abstract would do because I didn't realize that it's already 'ber' months!!! And now, it's 2012! Wow! 

A lot of things happened to me this 2011! If I am given a chance to tell everyone what happened this 2011, it'll be a mixture of laughter, sadness, anger, peace and love. Yes, love. It's not love for someone who will be your life partner but LOVE for my family, my friends, the people I meet along the way and love for my One and Only God. 2011 wouldn't be as great if I didn't experience all those challenges and learned a whole lot of new things even up to the very end of the year!

I became addicted to this game SIMPLY because I had a crush on the character I'm playing. Admit it.. he's cute :)

One of the distractions I had for 2011 is RPG games that can be downloaded at my itouch... :)) It's a distraction BECAUSE I have a gamer heart who wouldn't let a good story go unfinished and so far... I've completed only one out of the four RPG that I have. Yes, yes it's weird but because of the game's probing to buy this using actual cash, etc. isn't something I patronize which makes the whole game a lot harder than those who actually play the game and buy stuff for their convenience. But anyway, I'm going for the hard mode now... in hopes that I'll get a better pet and of course a whole lot more chance to level up. I've never really made it a point to reach level 100 but somehow I want to achieve that in this game. Yikes. Addiction! :))

Oh, by the way! One of the best way to start the year is to buy a new bible!!!

.

Yup, it's my new bible and I love it. It's as big as an encyclopedia but it has good reading materials that can help you relax and just doze your mind of every now and then. There are devotionals and side readings which can help you understand the chapter you're reading better. I've had a LOT of hesitations when I bought that but what I felt I did wrong for the past few weeks is to spend on what others want and nothing for myself. So if I deserve any gift this year, it'll be a great bible for my perusal! I love it though I'm a bit uneasy in turning the pages since it's new and I don't want to destroy it in just a couple of days... haha.


It's officially 2012 and I think I haven't gotten over 2011 as I should have but no regrets, keep moving forward in faith, love, hope and truth! :)

Happy 2012 everybody!

"God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son so that whoever believes in him may not be lost, but have eternal life."

John 3:16