Dear future husband, I stopped waiting for you...

I stopped waiting for you to make my heart sing. 

I stopped waiting for you to make me smile the brightest. 

I stopped waiting for you to make me know that I'm loved. 

I stopped waiting for you to make my spirit soar high up above. 

I stopped waiting for you to make me safe and secure. 

I stopped waiting for you to have an adventure.  

I stopped waiting for you to live out my purpose. 

I stopped waiting for you to be outward-focused. 

I stopped waiting for you to make me complete. 

I stopped waiting for you to make me so "kilig". 

I stopped waiting for you just to have a company. 

I stopped waiting for you just to cease being lonely. 

I stopped waiting for you to open my bottled water.   

I stopped waiting for you to shower my special days with flowers. 

I stopped waiting for you to know that  I'm beautiful. 

I stopped waiting for you to live life to the full. 

All because Jesus came

Jesus came and this heart knew completion. 

Jesus came and  this heart was filled with all the "kilig". 

Jesus came, and  this heart just overflows. 

Jesus came, and I'm just too in awe. 

Then I started waiting,
Yes, I am waiting...

 on Him.

I am waiting for His promise.

You're His promise to be fulfilled.

And I am utterly excited.

I'm excited to know you.

I'm excited to serve you. 

I'm excited to listen to you. 

I'm excited to pray for you in person. 

I'm excited to encourage you. 

I'm excited to be proud of you. 

I'm excited to believe in you and with you.

I'm excited to help you.
I'm excited to submit to your leadership. 

I'm excited to support you and your calling. 

I'm excited to glorify God with you. 

Happy Heart's Day

P. S.

Pursue Jesus.
Serve. 

Love,
your future wife 

To you who have a boyfriend

This is a letter I wrote for a young woman I love a few years ago when I heard that she already has a boyfriend. The draft resurfaced and I read it again. I realized,  it's the same message that's burning in my heart. I just also want to share it to you  girl. This is from my heart to yours...

To you who have a boyfriend ,


Kamusta?

This message is coming from a friend/ Ate who only wants what's best for you ok?

Since you decided  to have a boyfriend  in this season, I'm just concern because  I know the temptation will be there and will be stronger.

So this is just to encourage you, to beg you..

if ever...

if ever....


he or someone in the future  will ask you to do something that supposedly only married people could do...

Please say NO.

NO.

NO!!!  (With conviction. With all that you are.)

Please be brave enough to protect yourself and your future.

Been counseling women who gave themselves away to their exes and saw how regret, guilt and shame consumed them.  And those are NOT COOL. NOT COOL  AT ALL. (though the world makes it appear like pre-marital sex is cool) .

Know that you are valuable. So valuable.You're bought with a price.

You're just too precious.

 And sex too. Sex is God's  idea  (who else right? ) and it is to be enjoyed at the right time.  It's so precious that God had to protect it in the boundaries of marriage. Kung saan walang shame and guilt!



If a man really loves you, he will respect you. He will wait for you because you are worth waiting for.



Sounds so old-fashioned ba? so KJ (Kill Joy) ? Well,  can you just  call it PJ (Protecting Joy)? Because a glorious joy ( not just a temporary one) awaits you once you decide to embrace His perfect time for this and that is His will for you.


"For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you abstain from sexual immorality; that each one of you know how to control his own body in holiness and honor, not in the passion of lust like the Gentiles who do not know God."  (1 Thessalonians 4:3-5 )


You'll tend to think that boundaries limits but actually, it  protects my dear.

Payakap ako! Be strong and very courageous! May you always consider Jesus, your first love in every decision.May He be the one to complete you. You are loved. So loved.  And at times, when you feel like you've been so far and you can't go back,  know that you can, you can. Pagtalikod mo, He's just there waiting for you.

"Christ has loved you and gave Himself for you. Everything you need as a woman is found in Christ." - Thammie Sy .  May this reality sink deep in your heart just like how it did to mine when I was 18.


I love you but Christ loves you more than most.

from a friend who prays for you and  only wants what's best for you,

 Ycah / Ate Ycah


Photo by Tord Sollie on Unsplash 

To the girl who just met Jesus

I've seen the oceans, the mountains and the snow. But you, accepting Jesus, is still the greatest sight to behold.

I'm excited for you.

You smiled beautifully when we first met. I asked if you've been coming often and you said it's your third. I'm excited. I asked how old you are and you said "Fifteen".  I'm so excited for you. I'm too excited for you.

We're about to sing a song that speaks gratitude for His love -  "Beautiful Love" and you whispered to me "Ate, favorite ko yan". I'm excited. I'm so excited for you. I'm too excited for you.

At the end of the most beautiful message of all time, the message of His great love and great plan to save you.  You responded. You responded to His great love.  I'm excited. I'm so excited for you. I'm too excited for you.

My heart beats fast.. oh girl.. Do you have any idea what awaits?

You will finally stop waiting to know your identity.

You will finally stop seeking  love in other places.

You will finally stop trusting in yourself and your good works .

You will finally stop being out of place.

You will finally stop wondering if you have value.

You will finally stop compromising.

You will finally stop being hopeless.

You will finally stop waiting to be complete.

You will finally stop searching for happiness in circumstances

You will finally stop living for yourself.

You  will finally know more about this God who loved you first.
The God who never stopped loving you and never will.

Oh, I'm rushing things here! Know that I'm just  excited. I'm so excited for you. I'm too excited for you.

Some of these things will happen in an instant,  but most will be a process.
A beautiful process that you will not trade for anything.

My hearts leaps as I remember myself in you.
I'm excited. I'm so excited for you. I'm too excited for you.

Oh the places you will go!
Oh the faith that will arise!
Oh the calling that you will answer!
Oh the love that you will give away!
Oh the prayers that you will utter.
Oh the relationships that you'll have!
Oh the dates that you'll have with our  Daddy God.
Oh this great adventure with our Savior.

Every moment will be red-letter.
And you will know that He's the sweetest.





But little sister, it'll not be easy. There are times that it'll be bumpy and stormy.
Be still. Know. Know that He is God. He is God. He will forever be.
And this awesome, loving, mighty, powerful God is in you, with you and gone ahead of you.
He will never let go of your hand.

Be encouraged. Nothing in this world will ever separate you from His love.

Can I just pray for you?

Daddy God,

I thank You. I thank You for the life of this girl who just met You and accepted Jesus as her Lord and Savior. I thank You  for orchestrating this moment from the beginning of time. I'm excited. I'm so excited for her. I'm too excited for the both of you. I'm excited of how You will mold her. I'm excited of what she'll become in Your love.

I know, You will always be her best "Yes".  I pray that You'll just give her the grace  to choose You everyday, to love You and other people more and more each day. May You strengthen her and train her for battles. May You surround her with people who will walk this journey together. May You save her family. May You use her mightily for Your Kingdom.

Thank You, for NOTHING in this world will ever separate her  from Your love.  In Jesus' Name I pray. Amen!

To the girl who just met Jesus,

May your soul forever sing your "favorite" song:

Oh what love, how can it be?

From that cross You looked at me

Oh what love, poured out for me

What a beautiful love

Love

So glorious

Came down unashamed, You called me Yours

Caught up in Your grace, You're all I need

There's nothing more beautiful than Your love

(Beautiful Love by Victory Worship) 

To the girl who just met Jesus,

Remember not to forget.
Never give in to familiarity.
Never ever forget His love. The love that saves. The loves that secures.

The love that cost Jesus His blood and life.

The love that's for you.

Personally.


 I'm excited for you. I'm so excited for you. I'm too excited for you to be a princess in awe.

                                                                                 Love,

                                                                                  Ate Ycah 

*Photo by Bruno Nascimento on Unsplash