You Never Let Go

On days that I feel down... I just remember how God never lets go of me.



Thank you God for never letting go of me!

Financial Freedom

Of late, I have been a bit anxious about our financial standing. Half of the year is over and we haven't even started paying off our credit card bills, therefore, it means we have not been able to save for other important things like the future of our kids and our retirement fund. Probably I am just not good with money, but I haven't been able to start with my financial goal of the year which is to invest in stocks.

My sister has been urging me to start investing as the financial market in the Philippines is really performing rather well for the past year. I only need a few couple of thousands and I would be able to enroll in easy investment plans. But that's just it. I don't have the couple of thousands since whenever I get some extra cash, I use it to pay off some bills. It can get really frustrating but I don't really know how else to deal with it.

Thankfully, God has really been faithful. He has always provided for our needs. He never lets us down and just went we are running on empty, He would find a way to bless us. I believe that He also would want us to attain financial freedom from debts and I guess, I would need to find courage and wisdom so that I can finally invest in daytrade and other income generating ventures.

Inspirational Thoughts

On days that you feel like you are lacking... try to remember how faithful God has been to you.
On days that you feel like no one cares... try to remember that Jesus died for your sins.
On days that you feel like life is meaningless... try to remember that all of this is not your home and we are all sojourners here.

God knows how you really feel inside. He cares.

Be Prepared

When your future and your career is on the line, you would choose nothing but the best. You would want to do your best for your college entrance exams or scholarship exams or other exams like the gmat prep. Opportunities comes only once and if you are not prepared enough, you might fail your exams and lose your chance to further your career or your studies.

I remember 20 years ago, I was a senior high school student and it was time to take a couple of exams for college. I didn't understand why I didn't pass the one I desperately wanted to get into. Maybe if I had taken review from Veritas prep, things would have turn out differently.

If you have the opportunity and the resources, don't take your future for granted. Instead, use your time and finances for the betterment of your future. Be prepared as many opportunities in life, come only once.

Could You Be Messiah?

I just want to share one of the songs that really touched my heart, way back when I was in grade school, about grade 5 I think. I really felt down and didn't know where or who to turn to... This song just ministered to me.  Could You Be Messiah by one of my favorite artists of all time, Gary Valenciano.

Sell A Pair, Give A Pair

Eyeglasses are important. It is always great to find affordable but quality eyeglasses. The Warby Parker eye glasses are only available through their website. It is pretty interesting to note that this eye glass company was started out by friends who wanted to provide quality eyeglasses with an affordable price.

There are very few companies who sell eye glasses who gives a pair as they sell a pair. It is inspiring to see Warby Parker take such a stance. The company works with non-profit partners to make sure that each sale they make will give someone in need a good pair of glasses.

This is a very inspiring move by Warby Parker. Hopefully, other companies would follow suit and impact their communities more.

Reach For Your Goals

Watching my kids grow up is a privilege. Seeing them start to have dreams and goals of their own is surreal. As a parent, there is nothing more that I want than they reach their goals and dreams in life. But I know that reaching for goals isn't an easy task. In fact, it really takes a lot of character molding before one can even get to a point near our goals.

But while the kids are young, we give them opportunities and inspiration - so that they can dream and pray that God's favor will be upon them as they grow up. We also try our best to teach them that aside from faith in God, character is what sets them apart from others.

Africa Trip

One of my heart's desire is to be able to visit Africa someday. I have seen the animals and the geography from National Geographic movies and I can see that it is definitely breathtaking! I have always wondered what it would be like to see all those giraffes, zebras and elephants walking around in the plain. Being a nature lover, it has always been my dream.

I have checked out Kenya travel agents and it has been interesting to note that there are travel agents that I can approach to make my future trip to the African continent a success. I look forward to doing a trip there soon, enjoy nature walks and exploration trips. I also want to spend some time with local communities to learn from them and to know more about their culture. It would be an amazing  trip especially if they can provide an itinerary for me and the kids!

Someday, I hope that I can draw inspiration from this trip to Africa! I believe that enjoying nature and basking in nature is a gift from God we can all enjoy. Nature around us just shows us how majestic and wonderful our God is!

Motherhood Thoughts

Being a mom is one of God's greatest gift. I never thought that I would love being a mom. I enjoy every moment, every milestone, every challenge and every triumph. Motherhood has definitely changed my perspective on life and on love. Motherhood caused me to be selfless and loving. It has definitely allowed me to become a better person.

I am grateful and honored to be a mom. Thank you Lord!

The Voice Bible Translation

The Voice New Testament Bible Translation is a fresh way of reading the traditional scriptures. It retains the poetry and narrative format of the scriptures while choosing to remain faithful to the original meanings in Greek and Aramaic. It is a joint effort from Bible scholars, pastors, writers, musicians, poets and other artists while giving attention the the beauty of the story. It can be read like a modern literary piece yet the authors painstakingly made sure that the truth and the fullness of the scriptures are still intact!

Here are some of its features:
- Italicized information indicate what the original readers would have known
- In text commentary notes include thoughts whether historical, cultural, devotional or theological in nature.
- The format is ideal for public readings or group studies.
- There is a book introduction which aids the reader to understand the book more

So if you want to read the Word of God in modern English, this book would be a good choice for you. It can also be used as a basic study Bible

The New Testament translation is affordably prized at $6.99 only. This is published by Thimas Nelson Inc.




Note: I was given a copy of this book electronically but it has in no way influenced my personal opinions about the book.   

Wedding Inspiration

Special occasions make life special. Whenever I look back and think of special occasions in my life, I always remember my prom, my 18th birthday, my wedding day and the first and last time I gave birth would mark special milestones in my life. When I was younger, I often thought of my wedding day and wanted it to be really special. I wanted to have a simple yet beautiful wedding. A wedding like those done in new york estate weddings. I wanted to be able to look back and draw inspiration and love whenever I look back to that special day.

Now that I am older, I realize that the venue, the wedding dress, the invitation, the gifts or the guests wouldn't really mean so much. The glamour and all the party isn't what makes it special. It is what transpired on the wedding day that will matter. The vow and the commitment we made will be the memory which will really stand out and which will inspire me.

Whenever difficult days come, I know that I can always look back on our wedding day and know that the vow we made will stand because we promised God and each other that we will stand by each other - until death do us part.

Better Than I

On the days that I feel lost --- I am so glad that God reassures me. He is better than I. I will stop asking why  - and just trust in His leading.

Chia Seeds

With many diseases springing all over the globe, people are now going back to using organic instead of all the artificial products available in the market. From personal care to food to medicine, organic and herbal are the way to go.

My kids love to eat processed snacks and I have been looking around for good replacements. One of the new organic products I heard of is called chia seeds. I read about chia seeds history and I have found out that chia seeds can lower blood sugar and eliminate symptoms of high blood pressure and diabetes. My hubby is diabetic so we are warning our children that they have to watch what they eat so to control their own blood sugar. If they snack on something healthy, it would be much better! It has been mentioned that chia seeds are have naturally high levels of proteins, Omega 3 fatt acids, vitamins, minerals and anti-oxidants.

I think it is high time that I purchase chia seeds and try it on our food. We usually eat cereals in the morning and according to the article I just read, you can consume chia seeds raw. They are virtually tasteless and odorless.

I am excited to try chia seeds and see some results!

Books

As long as I can remember, I have loved reading books! I started with junior novels when I was younger and got to reading novels and devotional books when I got older. I get inspiration, instruction and insight from reading books. It is a great way to expand one's horizon and knowledge about places, things, culture and life's lessons. 

Now that I have kids of my own, I want them to enjoy reading as much as I did. Because I believe that once we have instilled the joy of reading, they will never cease learning. 

You cannot open a book without learning something.
Confucius

Pursuing Higher Degrees

There are too many business graduates in the workplace, if you wanted to ensure a better career, it seems that you need to have higher educational attainment. Because of the competition in the workplace, many people are opting to study in graduate schools to pursue further degrees in their education. To ensure a high grade in the graduate management admission test (GMAT), enrolling in centers like VeritasPrep would greatly help one's chances to get a higher grade. VeritasPrep provides interactive online courses anywhere. Just like if you are in Utah, Salt Lake City gmat course from Veritas Prep is also available there.

I have never been interested to take my current degree further. But that is not the case for my husband. My husband is currently taking up his second masteral degree. His first masteral degree was Master in Arts in Christian Studies but now, he is taking up Masters in Divinity. It previously took him 3 years to finish his online course but now that he is pastoring full time, I think it would take him a longer time. But that doesn't discourage him from pursuing his second masters degree. Thankfully, he didn't need to take a GMAT exam anymore! Otherwise, he might also need to enroll in Veritas Prep himself!

Cultivating Your Inner Life Review

I have been reading a really good book by Rev.Edmund Chan entitled "Cultivating Your Inner Life". It is all about our spiritual formation and what discipleship should really be. I have really enjoyed this book because it is not just something to be read, but it really speaks to one's heart.

The author used his personal life experiences to illustrate his points on christian growth. One of the book's main topic is intimacy with God. The book discussed several myths that people believe  about intimacy with God. Here are the 4 myths:
> Intimacy is the key to blessing
> Intimacy is a prize
> Intimacy with God is optional
> Intimacy is experienced the same way by everyone

Rev. Edmund Chan stated 4 truths to contradict the 4 myths. The 4 truths are:
> God delights in intimacy with us and invited us to it
> Intimacy is a God-given birthright for all
> Intimacy takes trust and not just time
> Intimacy with God results in redemptive acts of love

The book has made me rethink the status of my personal relationship with God. Am I too comfortable or am I intimate with Him?

If you want to re-evaluate your relationship with God, this book is a good companion especially this Lenten season.

This book is published by Covenant Evangelical Free Church.

Note: I have not been paid to write this review. All opinions are personal. 

I.T. Work

Before I became a stay at home mom, I used to work as an Information Technology (I.T.) Professional. I started off as a customer support specialist until I became an applications support specialist. I also did a bit of web development and software testing and installation. I remember that there are many types of software testing which includes performance testing, platform compatibility testing, and content testing. Nowadays, there are separate companies who specialize in quality assurance testing services. They provide product development services and quality check and testing as well. This will save time and effort for the company who needs to support a rather large corporation.

Having an I.T. background, I think going back to the I.T. field after not working for more than 8 years is difficult. Hopefully, something is waiting for me in the software support area. But who knows what kind of opportunities the Lord has in store for me?

The 10 Best Decisions A Woman Can Make

I was looking for a book that I wanted to give to a friend who was in her 20s and has her life ahead of her. I wanted one that would speak to her and help her evaluate her life. So I headed out to OMF Literature Book shop and found this book!

The 10 Best Decisions A Woman Can Make is written by Pam Farrel. Pam challenges women to make decisions instead of just allowing life to drift by. She begins by challenging women to assess how they view their significance. Every decision she would make is based on how she views herself and it is important that she has the proper view about herself. A significant woman bases her identity on who God says she is, and not on what she does.

Living an intentional life is not easy and Pam Farrel challenges us to do just that in every area in our lives. We need to be authentic, know what is the truth, maximize ourselves, live by love, take good care of our selves, be successful in every season of our life and leave a lasting legacy. This book speaks to women across the different seasons of their lives and wonderfully makes one realize that each season is as special as the next one.

Each chapter ends with decision points, questions that will help every woman evaluate the current state of her life and how she wants to proceed. It is most beneficial to read through this book with the intention of making changes in one's life.

I recommend this book to women who want to make a difference and live their lives meaningfully.

Note: I personally bought this book and I am not compensated for this review.

Gift Giving

Early this year, I created a list of personal goals. As I identified my personal mission statement, I was able to come up with a list of goals related to my mission statement. 2 months have gone by and I am glad that I have been able to accomplish much already.

One of my goals is to bless others, through books and gifts. I want to share God's blessings to others and make life more meaningful. I found out about Ikea gift cards and thought they would make great gifts. I personally love to shop at Ikea stores. They offer lots of stuff for the home and personal stuff that makes me smile! It is a a good thing that Gift Rocket offers Ikea gift cards. I can give something personalized yet it still gives the recipients the flexibility of buying what they really want.

I pray that through these gifts, people will appreciate God and what He is doing in their lives.

Insight On Struggles

There are days that circumstances, doubt and weakness seem to overcome us, but it is during these trials that we see God at work in our lives. We see how mighty, how loving and how faithful He has really been through it all. Through the struggles of our lives, we see the whole picture and realize that we can never do it on our own. Then we see how big our God really is and how small and futile everything else is.

During turbulent times, we need to find rest in Him and wait upon God. He shall surely see us through.

Detox Cleansing Diet

Our spiritual life is important. We need to take care of it by reading the Word of God, praying and going on a spiritual retreat to refresh our faith. Our physical bodies also need such care. We need to eat the right amount of food, get enough rest and exercise regularly. But with the way life has been progressing over the years, there are many diseases and people get sick more easily. Even young people get sick because of improper diet and lack of proper body care. People tend to overuse their bodies and not get enough rest.

It is important that we learn about body cleansing. The body we use probably has gained many toxins over the years and it can not properly operate because of all the junk inside.

Before it is too late, let us start with a detox cleanse diet . We can learn more about the clean program by watching some videos over YouTube or reading some texts.

The detox cleanse diet would first focus on removing toxins from your body. Then it will eventually help you build healthy eating habits. It is not meant as a cure to diseases but it certainly helps our body operate more efficiently.

Then Sings My Soul Saturdays - Pure and Holy

Here is one of my favorite songs. Pure and Holy by Parachute Band. It is an old song already, I first heard it more than 10 years ago. Every time I hear it now, I still love it. Love the message of the song.

The 4 Hour Chef Book

I am not a cook, nor do I aspire to be one. I just cook out of necessity. I don't have a love affair with food and I've never been a food enthusiast ever since. I remember when I was small, it would take me hours just to finish my meal. Thankfully, I have outgrown that phase in my life, but I still am not adventurous when it comes to eating or cooking. I also don't like cooking without recipes because I am afraid that if I cook without a recipe at hand, the food I'm preparing would taste bad and no one will eat it!

So after seeing The 4 Hour Chef book on the bookstores, I wonder what it has to offer to a non-cook like me! I am interested to see how Timothy Ferriss will help me through this four hour chef book. It mentioned that the book has recipes and cooking techniques. But the highlight of the book is teaching one to learn new skills quickly. Since cooking is a skill, mastering it quickly can be a plus for me.

Mastering the art of cooking has been a lifelong quest, just maybe with the help of this book, it won't be as elusive anymore.

Then Sings My Soul Saturdays - Steady My Heart

A song to encourage all of you who are facing struggles in life!

It Only Hurts When I Pee, RJ Ledesma’s Guide on Bodily Gases, Hair Loss and Pink Parts

Do you like reading books with a different twist? Well here is a book by Three-time best-selling author and 30th National Book Awards finalist RJ Ledesma entitled “It Only Hurts When I Pee, RJ Ledesma’s Guide on Bodily Gases, Hair Loss and Pink Parts.”

No, this is not another story about vampires who sparkle in the midday sun while wearing outrageously pale faces and pouted lips. This is the truth that young boys long to discover, grown ups laugh about, and our grandpas love to revisit. This is the story of every Adam that will never be written in the history of mankind.

Author RJ Ledesma unravels how this and other crazy, perplexing phenomena are taking place, as he launches his fourth book which is distributed by Anvil Publishing. It is a compilation of the ridiculously truthful, self-aware and highly comical chronicles of the less hygienic male species based on curious epic research, thorough investigation and, ahem, first-hand experience.

From the freshly squeezed brain juices of RJ Ledesma, the book and all its 167 pages tackles amusing topics and antics, including classic and epic details in the Pinoy dating and mating scenes, and male entertainment created simply by grimy fingers and a lack of good taste.

Wonder why bad guys often become the object of romance by women who, in RJ’s own word, desire “to increase the country’s current voting population”? Let the entrepreneur, multimedia practitioner, yogi and author of Lies My Yaya Should Have Told Me (2008), I Do or I Die (2009), and Is It Hot In Here Or Is It Me? (2010) tickle your funny bone and usher you into testosterone land with his newest masterpiece guaranteed to make you pee to your heart’s content.

Stock Trading Tips

Being a stay at home mom, sometimes you get restless at home and start to feel useless when it comes to helping the family financially. When the bills come in, I sometimes think about going back to regular work. But then, I remember that I am making a sacrifice for the welfare of the kids. So for the mean time, I have to think of other ways I can earn while I am here at home.

My sister has been telling me about the stock market. She said that I should read about it and learn how to trade stocks. So I did! I checked out some books on stock investment, read some blogs and informative sites like Tim Sykes stocks. It seems like I just need to have a steady online connection which I have, be aware of the news and learn the ropes of stock trading online.

Stock trading is something you can't learn just by reading books. Trying it out and experiencing trading will give you insights as to when you should be buying and selling your stocks. For starters, just buy few stocks and trade it. You can also register on those clubs which give free tips on what to do. Watch programs which educate you on stock trading.

Don't be greedy and be thankful. It is your attitude which will determine if you will make it or not in stock trading.

Conflicts Refine Our Character

Do you agree that conflicts refine your character?

Most conflicts provide an opportunity to grow to be more like Jesus. God’s highest purpose for you is not to make you comfortable, wealthy, or happy. He plans to conform you to the likeness of His Son! Conflict is one of the many tools that God will use to help you develop a more Christ-like character. To begin with, he may use conflict to remind you of your weaknesses and to encourage to depend more on him. The more you rely on his grace, wisdom, and power, the more you will be imitating the Lord Jesus.

God may use conflict to expose sinful attitudes and habits in your life. Conflict is especially effective in breaking down appearances and revealing stubborn pride, a bitter, and unforgiving heart, or a critical tongue. When you are squeezed through controversy and these sinful characteristics are brought to the surface, you will have an opportunity to recognize their existence and ask for God’s help in overcoming them.

There is more to being like Jesus than simply recognizing weaknesses and confessing sin, however to grow, you must also draw on his grace and practice new attitudes and habits. Just as athletes develop their muscles and skills through strenuous training, you will see greater growth when you repeatedly think and behave properly in response to challenging circumstances. For example, when people provoke and frustrate you, practice love and forgiveness. When they fail to act promptly, develop patience. When you are tempted to give up on someone, exercise faithfulness. Conflict provides a rich mixture of such trials, each of which can strengthen and refine your character.

God uses conflict to stretch and challenge you in carefully tailored ways. This process is sometimes referred to as the “ABC of spiritual growth”: Adversity Builds Character. As you worry less about going through conflict and focus more on growing through conflict, you will enhance that process and experience the incomparable blessing of being conformed to the likeness of Christ.

Source: Sande, Ken: The Peacemaker: A Biblical guide to resolving personal conflict (Grand Rapids, Michigan USA, Baker publishing group), 36-37

Then Sings My Soul Saturdays - Thank You

Here is a song by The Katinas entitled "Thank You".

Thank you Lord for everything. Thank you for who you are in my life. Thank you for the overflowing blessings! Thank you!

Then Sings My Soul Saturday - I Lift My Hands

Here is another Chris Tomlin song I just recently heard. I Lift My Hands.



It is great to know that God hears every cry of our heart and that He is bigger than any of our heartaches. Let us give our all to him and lift our lives in surrender to the One who loves us more than we can imagine. He is a great God!

Project: Thankful in 2012

Today, I am thankful that our car was already taken to the car service center. We were assured by the service center that they will replace all the parts damaged in our car. Hopefully, our car will be fixed in 2 weeks.

I can truly see God's provision and protection upon our family. Thank you Lord!

Project: Thankful in 2012

This year, I am embarking on a year long project of being thankful to God for at least one thing every day for one whole year. I believe this would make 2012 a blessed year and a fruitful one too! Not to mention, giving God the credit for everything.

I am starting off with thanksgiving because I won Global Art's one semester classes for my daughter. This is truly special and I look forward to be able to bring my daughter to their center so she can start taking art classes.

Are you thankful for anything today? Share your post with me!