And so I prayed…

Prayed, prayed and prayed…until it was time to speak.

The message was taken from 2 Timothy 2:21-22, about Vessels of Honor. How we should allow the Lord to work in our lives to be changed and be Vessels of Honor fit for the Master’s use.

In the middle of the talk, the Spirit impressed upon my heart to encourage the mothers to continue praying for the church. As almost all of them are in the ministry of prayer and intercession. God reminded the Word about how David divided everything they got from the battle equally, for those who went to battle and those who stayed. The prayer and intercessory ministry is as important as those who go out for evangelism and mission.

After the fellowship, a very old lady approached me. I knew her since childhood. She was this sweet lola (grandmother) of my Sunday School classmates. Now, she has grown older…all of her hair is white, but still sweet and lovely. She said that she’s very encouraged with the Word. She told me that she has not been attending the other gatherings in the church…because she doesn’t know how to read.

It was the time of war in the country when she was growing up and there was no opportunity for her to study.

When she became a Christian, she can’t read the bible, but God taught her how to pray, and that is all she does. PRAY.

Praise God! I think I was more encouraged by her testimony! Indeed, there is no hindrance in coming to the Lord and being used in His kingdom. And all the more challenged to read the Word…as the Lord has given me the opportunity to read. May it not be accounted that I have fallen short of using this opportunity, to read and learn from His Word.

I guess it started early that evening while listening to an audio preaching and the Pastor shared a vision he had for China 50 years ago.

It was like a spark on something that has been planted in my heart 10 years ago, when I attended a prayer meeting and heard about the on going mission work in China.

I was a young college student that time, with no ‘burden’ for missions. I just wanted to pass my Calculus and Chemistry that time. But the missionary from China gave a powerful talk, that I was convinced to subscribed in their monthly  newsletter and pray for the nation. I still have the chopstick that they gave to remind of my prayer commitment.

And today, it was as if God placed a fuel on that spark to set my heart on fire. The burden came on the bus…and I was literally in tears for China.

I realized that indeed it is only the Lord who can placed a genuine burden for a nation. It cannot be fabricated, it is only His love for that nation shared to His children. I felt a genuine, pure and patient love for the nation. It was an enduring love that will never give up until the very end.

I guess this is a start of something new for me. Something different in the way I pray for this nation. Now let me begin…on my knees

Waiting.

We were at the highlands yesterday, enjoying some unlimited cakes and coffee, with some chilly air of the mountains. A very nice setting for some really good conversation.

My discipler shared this story about waiting, which was not really something new…because it happens in ordinary days.

Waiting.

I guess from experience, the hardest part of waiting is on that last two minutes before you get the result. That is the crucial point of not giving up.

How do you know if that is your last two minutes? No one can say, but I guess it is when you want to give up that you should ask for more grace to be still.

There are two parts in waiting, it is waiting for the WHAT and then waiting for the WHEN. The two parts are not separated, it is linked together and should be progressive. If you miss the WHEN, you miss the WHAT.

When I was younger, I was so focused on the WHEN, because I thought I already knew the WHAT. Like any other young person, you always want things to be done NOW. But now that I am a little older, God made me realize that knowing the details of the WHAT will give me the grace to wait for WHEN.

“Truly my soul silently waits for God; from Him comes my salvation; He is my defense; I shall not be greatly moved … My soul, wait silently for God alone, for my expectation is from Him. He only is my rock and my salvation; He is my defense; I shall not be moved.” Psalm 62:1-2, 5-6

Years ago, (I cringe with that introduction), I was this carefree, funny, hilarious and always excited young lady. Take a look at this picture and you will agree with me.  Honestly, yes I was a happy person,with so much laughter almost every minute, but I was not sure where I was heading. Or what I should be doing.

I was everywhere, doing everything, without really focus and purpose.

And with the Lord’s goodness, He called me and started to establish me in His purposes. I can say, that I am not “so funny” now. My team in the office often thinks that I am stern and serious at work.

It’s not because God has taken away the “fun” in my life. But I guess, God has re-arranged my life in a way that I will desire His joy and not just… fun.

Oh His joy…His unspeakable joy! It is like a treasure that you need to dig deeper to get the purest form. This joy is not smile-deep kind, but heart, soul and spirit-deep kind of joy. That even in the midst of trouble, you will thank Him for the abounding joy.

This is what keeps me from continuing and moving forward. His Joy that was set before me and enables me to endure the cross.

And for 2012, this believer in the marketplace will be entering new seasons at work. Great things are yet to come!

Tatay's winning game

Last night was my most memorable time with my family. For the first time,
every one was awake to welcome the new year on midnight. We had prayers and a simple dinner. We also had games and we were all laughing, because my Tatay who didn’t want to join, won the game and took the prize money. For some reason, I was embracing the moment, trying to make special memories before 2011 bid farewell with my family. 

I thank the Lord for this chance to have this special memories with my parents.    It was a difficult and challenging life while we were growing up. And I’m glad that I can now celebrate with them now that life is a little more comfortable. My Nanay is very consistent in her request (almost like a plea) for a son-in-law. And I just have to also be consistent in telling her that it will come, and we just have to enjoy this time that I am with the family.

This coming year is like a gift wrapped beautifully. There’s a lot of anticipation in my heart. I look forward in knowing the Lord deeper, go through the preparations (yes, for the coming ages…not just years), and enjoy every moment the Lord will bring.

I welcome this year with a prayer of two words, “YES, LORD.”

I trust, obey and allow faith to grow.

Happy New Year!

One Memorable Christmas Season at Esteban's