Humility Challenge

Have you heard of the ICE BUCKET CHALLENGE?


It's so fun! (Nah, I didn't do it, hehe. Hindi kasi ako ni nominate ni Ms. Kris Aquino eh). But it's so fun to watch famous people from all over the world do it!

I can't name them all. Just a few that I know.

Kris Aquino, Anthony Taberna,Vice Ganda, Billy Crawford, Coleen Garcia,EXO  members, Suzy, Sandara Park, George W. Bush, Lindsay Lohan, Rachel McAdams, Adam Levine, Marian Rivera, Dingdong Dantes, Lea Salonga, Aga Muhlach, APL de AP and of course, Kuya Jek. :)

Just a random thought after googling different Ice Bucket Challnges and what it's for.

It's a fund raising  and awareness  activity for the disease called  ALS.

Why everyone accepted the challenge? It's  not everyday that people like them would participate in something "crazy" like that. I'm not sure but maybe they're thinking, "Nagawa na nga ni ano (insert a very famous name)eh ..ako..ba't hindi ko magagawa?"

Me too. I think I'll do it kasi nagawa nila eh. It became so easy when you know it can be done.

Especially when you know someone greater than you did such a humble thing.


Hmm.. how about us when it comes to humility? Will it be really easy when you just love yourself and love when people praise you and celebrate you?


Well here's my revelation: It's easier to humble oneself because Jesus (God Himself) demonstrated His humility.


Here are some of the verses which tell us how humble our King is:


Philippians 2:5-8

You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had.
Though He was God,
He did not think of equality with God
as something to cling to.
Instead, He gave up his divine privileges ;
He took the humble position of a slave
and was born as a human being.
When He appeared in human form,d
He humbled himself in obedience to God
and died a criminal’s death on a cross.


2 Corinthians 8:9

For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sake He became poor, so that you through His poverty might become rich.

Matthew 3:13-15

Then Jesus arrived from Galilee at the Jordan coming to John, to be baptized by him. But John tried to prevent Him, saying, "I have need to be baptized by You, and do You come to me?" But Jesus answering said to him, "Permit it at this time; for in this way it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness." Then he permitted Him.

Matthew 20:28

just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many."


John 13:5


Then He poured water into the basin, and began to wash the disciples' feet and to wipe them with the towel with which He was girded.

Luke 22:27


"For who is greater, the one who reclines at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one who reclines at the table? But I am among you as the one who serves.



He did it and He's nominating us.

Name Them

Found this one on Tumblr, and it's just so thought-provoking! Enjoy and let's care! :)


Name the five wealthiest people in the world.

Name the last five winners of the Miss Universe contest.

Name 10 Nobel Prize winners.

Name the last five winners of the Academy Award as best actors or actresses.

How are you going? Bad, right? Hard to remember? Do not worry. None of us remember the best of yesterday.

The applause will go away. The trophies get dusty. The winners are forgotten.




Now do this:

Name three teachers who helped you in your real training.

Name three friends who have helped you in difficult moments.

Think of a few people who made you feel like someone special.

Name five people who transcorres your time.

How are you going? Better, is not it?




People who mark our life are not those with the best credentials, with more money, or the best prizes.
Those who care about us, caring for us, those who, somehow, are on our side.

                                                                            Source

Nuggets

I so lovin' writing and posting these days. Thanks to Kuya Jekker (iamjekker.com) He really inspired me in doing both things. Write. Post. You don't know who you might inspire or who might relate to you.

Anyway, just wanna say, Crush kita Kuya Jek, hindi mo ba nuggets?

hahaha. Nah. Joke lang. :) Just want to use "nuggets" in a sentence there.


Funny how I wanted to write because of Nuggets.


Hmm...saan nga ba patungo ang nuggets post na ito? Ito marahail ay dahil sa gutom lang ako. Hungry. All wanna do is eat now. Eat eat eat.
Ang daming nakapila ng gusto kong kainin:

Authentic ramen
Steak sa Outback Steakhouse
Salad with Herb Cheese Dressing
Kanin
Ulam
Hamburger
Shake sa Go! Salad
Blueberry cheesecake
cookies
pandesal na may sardinas
handa sa fiesta


Nuggets nyo ba? Pakainin nyo ako.

Oh food. 

Quotations to Love

I'm recently falling in love with different sayings, quotations or lyrics. Sometimes I wonder if they are really useful in life or really, what's their importance. Reading blogs, reading books, reading "About Me" s of someone etc. I bumped into these and I loved them since. I pray to engraved them in my heart (but it's nothing compared to God's word right? Well, those are the living and active ones).


1. " People don't care how much you know until they know how much you care." - John Maxwell

I got this one from Pastor John Paul Herrera's facebook account. :)  It compels me to care. care. CARE.


2. "True humility is not thinking less of yourself, it's thinking yourself less." - C. S. Lewis

This one is from Pastor Joey Bonifacio's Blog . Whoa! Think of yourself less! Come on! 

3. God is too good to be unkind

   So when you don't understand
   When don't see his plan
   When you can't trace his hand

   Trust His Heart

I heard this one in Saved FM last Sunday. It's one of the entries in their game that night. 

This is just the beginning..

Fool for You

There are times when faith and common sense do not align

When hardcore evidence of You is hard to find

And I am silenced in the face of argumentative debate

And it's a long hill, it's a lonely climb 'cause they want proof

That they want proof of all these mysteries I claim

'Cause only fools would want to chant a dead man's name

Maybe, it's true

I would be a fool for you

All because you asked me to

A simpleton who's seemingly naive

I do believe You came and made Yourself a fool for me

I admit that in my darkest hours I've asked what if

What if we created some kind of man made faith like this

Out of good intention or emotional invention

And after life is through there will be no You

'Cause they want proof of all these miracles I claim

'Cause only fools believe that men can walk on waves

Maybe, it's true

I would be a fool for you

All because you asked me to

A simpleton who's seemingly naive

I do believe You came and made Yourself a fool for me

Unaware of popularity, the unconcerned with dignity

You made me free, that's proof enough for me

I would be a fool for You only if You asked me to

A simpleton who's only thinking of the cause of love

I will speak Jesus' name

That makes me crazy, they can call me crazed

I'm happy to be seemingly naive

I do believe You came and made Yourself a fool for me

A fool for You

Read more: Nichole Nordeman - Fool For You Lyrics 

She's Following The Rockstar (Salvation Story Fan Girl Edition)

We have game in my Team 4 Ushering Ministry family about posting our Testimonies. I just felt like to do another version of my Salvation Story. Hehe. This is the fan Girl me Edition. :)


Then: She's Following The Rockstar


Hi Team, I'm Ycah (/aica/).

I was only 6 when my Father passed away and then eventually,  my Mom got married again. My brother and I was left in the custody of my Aunt, Uncle and Grandmothers.  Okay, so, Grandmothers. Thus, basically, I grew up in a very religious Catholic family. I go to church every Saturday afternoon or Sunday mornings. Did I sound like I hated it?  Well, actually, I loved it! :)

 I can say that at such a young age, I learned to hold on to God. With all the happenings in my childhood (wait, I think I would cry, hahahaha)- my Father died, my Mother remarried,  my younger brother passed away, I was  transferred to a public school etc. Really, He's all that I've got. The trials didn't made me mad at Him, instead, because of that, I hold on to Him all the more.

I grew up thinking that I'm an outcast. Like I don't really belong. I was so shy to my relatives (medyo may trauma ako sa pagiging out-of-place talaga), cousins ganyan. I would hear people talk negative things about me at my back. They don't want me to study because for them I'm  a burden. That's one of the hardest thing for me at that time. I love studying yet no one's there to fulfill my parent's responsibility. Education and other things started to become a privilege rather than a right. Thus, yun nga, I prayed and prayed and prayed to God at all times for me to continue to go to school. Even if I graduated as a Salutatorian, that doesn't guarantee that I will go to High School.  I hold on to Him, I cried to Him, I talked to Him. Indeed, at such a young age, He became my best friend. :)

Entering High School was such a miracle.


In high school though, naging addict ako. Yes, eto na yung addict part. Haha. Naging addict ako ako sa isang lalaki at sa kanyang banda. His name is Yael and his band Sponge COla (the guy in the picture, husband na sya ni Karylle ngayon, haha. familiar?).Rakista at heart (ate Ruffa? hehe) .Yeah. Sobrang sya yung naging mundo ko. Everything is just about him. I remember pinagsasampal ko at pinagsusuntok ang best friend ko (seriously) dahil nilamukot nya yung songmag ko na cover sila Yael nung magkaaway kami (over noh? aww)! He's also became my identity at that time.

Lahat ng kakilala ko, ako ang naaalala kapag nakikita nila si Yael or the other way around. They call me "Yael" (until now may tumatawag pa din sa kin nyan. haha). He influenced me a lot din.  I loved English kasi magaling sya mag english. Pinangarap ko mag Ateneo kasi yun yung school nya. Gusto ko din mag Engslish Literature kasi yun yung course nya. Nung hindi ko naabot yun, naging Broadcasting ang course ko sa PUP kasi feeling ko nun yun yung malapit sa Eng. Lit.Hehe. Above all his influences, eh sa crush (blush).


 Nagka crush ako sa friend ko na ka semblance nya. For me, he's really like Yael.(flashback starts I'm standing there..)

It so happen that this friend/crush of mine is a Christian. We became friends since we both love Sponge Cola. But he would also lend me  his Hillsong United cds. (E di ba iba ang impact ng crush? So I would really listen to it. hehe.)


Pero nang mapunta na ng Manila, alam na! Gig, gig. gig. gig and more GIGS! (ate Ruffa ulit? hahaha) Hanggang umaga sa bar makita lang si Yael kumanta at uminom. I don't drink pero lasing na lasing ako kay Yael.High na high ang feeling. I felt I belong is his arms, in his songs..ganun..I even went somewhere in Antipolo na wala akong idea sa place for a gig. Tapos, may dagdag pa ang hingi ng Tuition para makabili ng album, songmags etc. May concept na nga ako nun ng "unconditional love" kasi feeling ko ganun yung love ko for Yael eh. Sabi ko pa nun "wala nang makakapagpabago ng nararamdaman ko para sa kanya!" Lulong na lulong na ko.



Until one Friday ininvite ako ng friend/classmate kong si Ana sa Youth Service. She's a friend na pini persecute ko in my mind  kasi I really hate the term "Born Again".  I said yes despite knowing that I don't really like it kasi baka may kantahin na Hillsong song na pinakinggan ko nung High School! Crush ko pa din si ka semblance ni Yael nun, so umasa ako talaga. haha. Still, inside, Off ako sa "Christian, christian, born again, born again thingy (kailangan inuulit). Gusto ko lang talaga marinig ulit ang mga kantang pinapakinggan naming dalwa.(blush ulit)


 I attended. It was Shout Out series with Pastor Gilbert Foliente. Honestly, here's the only thing I remember on my first Youth Service: "Shout it! Shout it! Shout it out loud!" (a lyrics of the song during the intermission number). I remember sitting on the left front row..hearing names of Pastor Ryan, Kuya Xave and all. (Hindi ka nag iisa, akala ko din ka age ko lang sila nun ;))

It was fun! I just hate that there's a sharing part after which they call "VG or Victory Group".  But when we started, that's when I actually humbled myself and cry and share.

Akala ko hindi na ako babalik. Eh walang tinugtog na Christian song na alam ko. Yun, nung tinanong ako, "Babalik ka next week?" edi napatango ako.


Eventually, nakapag One 2 One, Victory Group..In between uma attend pa din ng gigs, pero napapansin ko nababawasan na hanggang sa hindi na. Hindi ko na din naiisip si Yael much. Minsan na lang (in times like this, or kapag pinagpe pray ko na ma save sya).Naka move on na din kay Crush kasi may MOG (Man of God) naman na nakalaan) Hart hart!


 I fully accepted Him in a Sunday Service last January 15, 2012. I just saw myself crying and crying and crying because I realize how unworthy I am. I felt like a slave girl who just realized that she has been set free. At that moment, I knew I come home to my Father. That He's hugging me and that's He's so joyful that I made that decision despite hurting Him because of my sins. His unconditional love is just so powerful ehem, more powerful than my love for Yael.

 I fully understand what He did for me. And then, months later,  I had my Victory Weekend. SOBRA YAN! hahaha! Yung sa Victory over Addiction part? hahahah!

So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. - John 8:36


Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! - 2 Corinthians 5:17


Now: She's following the Rock and the Morning Star

As a new creation. Well, from being such a worrier (SOBRANG WORRIER), I learned of trusting Him. From being so selfish (SONRANG SELFISH) to being generous . From being an idolater (ADDICT haha)   to being His worshiper.  From being so insecure (SOBRANG INSECURE) to being secured. From being lost to being saved. From being rejected to being loved and accepted.


I really don't know the other things that He changed from the old me but I just know that I'm a work in  progress now. I still struggle and I still asks "Am I being a Christian in the truest sense of the word?" Sometimes I worry that I might not.

I know that as a Princess, there are rules in the Kingdom that should be followed. And there are times that it would still be hard.  But when I look to Jesus,my King. I just know that He will continue to mold me in living in the way that He wants and designed me to.


I started to disciple girls. Grabe, I never thought that I could be a leader but He thought I could! It'll always be a privilege to be used by Him in building lives. :)

I'm so excited for the future. Imagine nung bata pa tayo, hindi naman natin pinangarap maging Christian pero nangyari. Ano pa kaya yung mga great things pa na wala tayong ka ide- idea? haha.


As C. S. Lewis puts it “There are far, far better things ahead than any we leave behind.”


I'm so thrilled. I think the reality of Christ is even better (way way better) than Fairy tales. :)


Don't you think?

Thank you Victory! :)

It's been a habit to check different instagram accounts of the people I look up to these days. One of them of course is Mrs. Rica Peralejo- Bonifacio's. Her life with Jesus didn't fail to inspire and  give me hope. One of those times that she inspired me is at the moment I read the caption on one of her Photos ..

" Victory...you are a big part of why I am just so happy today. #30yearsofvictory".


I then realized how thankful I am as well for this movement.


Who I am today, I'm giving all the credits to Jesus (naman!). He simply orchestrated a lot of things. He used my crush, my friends, my professor in leading me to His love through Victory .


I was  really off with "Christian christian, born again, born again" thingy years ago. I just don't like it as I thought it's really WEIRD and SCARY.  But when I started to attend (last 2011) its just a great eye opener for me. It's cool pala and it's not boring at all!  AT. ALL!

It's amazing on how the leaders and people operates in God's love and grace. On how they obey the great commission. On how they believe in the next generation. On how they took seriously the Lordship of Jesus Christ. On how they love one another . On how they love to reach out for the Lost  (and oh, also, On how excellent they are!)

I'm really  thankful to God for the lives of our Pastors, staffs and leaders.

Oops baka maging church-centered na haha. Pero above all, I love it 'cause they don't care to get any credits talaga, they don't care about the name "Victory".  I remember when Pastor Lloyd of Victory Baliwag said in our Radical series na who cares if people forget or remember  Victory? Maybe one day, we will change our name or whatever.  But, who cares? AS LONG AS THE NAME OF JESUS CHRIST IS LIFTED UP. It's gonna just fine.

It's not about Victory. It'll never be about Victory. IT'S ONLY ABOUT JESUS.

Allow me just to say as well...

" Victory...you are a big part of why I am just so happy today. #30yearsofvictory".

Ituloy natin ang caption, one day..one day.. sasabihin ko din ito:

" ...you discipled me, and my husband, and we will continue to make disciples out of others especially our children..."
Amen!

There are other movements out there of course, some are  better, and cooler etc.  but I believe that there would always be a church for you. There would always be a church for me. :)

Happy 30th Anniversary! :)

Here's to 30 more years and beyond of Honoring God and Making Disciples. :)

Touch Up

Tuesday morning Touch up (is there even such a term?) It's amazing on how a little powder, lipstick and blush on can do  wonders. Okay lang ba? At least it's definitely better than the first pic right? Whoa. Scary. Happy Tuesday! :) I hope to learn more on how to take good care of myself. HAHA

Day 3 and The rest

Day 3 

           During the third day of prayer and fasting, I failed to write anything! :( Hmm..what happened that day? I think I was so excited of course (because the next day, it'll be Jo's Victory Weekend)  but I think I get to pray for my friend's faith goals as well. I just realized na... gusto ko din ng mga faith goals nila? LOL. I mean, I also want it for them so I'm really expectant. Amazing future ahead of us all. Lalo na ang aking friend na si Gabby, gonna marry a Church-planter eh. #declaration ;)

The rest

I'm learning a lot really from simple happenings:

Praying

• Like when I prayed for a friend during the weekend. It's obvious that something's troubling her. She's not that "in-the-mood" so I was just happy when she asked me to pray for her. While praying, I realized that there's really a tendency to rely on myself than on the Holy Spirit. So always be reminded  na ang goal is not na manghula hula ka ng ipapagpray para ma meet mo yung ineexpect ng tao,  trying to perform blah blah para lang mabigyan ng justification yung title na "intercessor". Be truly led! 

Speaking in Tongues

• Pwede kang makiweekend. What I mean is. You can also be baptised with the Holy Spirit and have the manifestation kahit na hindi ikaw ang participant. Yep, my friend spoke in Tongues while ministering. Amazing. Hindi lang sa weekend mo sya pwedeng matanggap. ;) 

Ministering

• During the orientation for the ministry time, I re-learn loads of things too na pwedeng  i-apply as I make disciple: 

           -It's not about me, it's about the Word of God.

           -Affirm the truth in their lives and truth comes from the Bible (basa basa din ha?) 

           -John 8:32 "Then you will know the truth and the truth will set you free." 

           -Hanapin ang root ng struggle. We need to uproot that! 

           -Identify the lie, then banggain ng truth (ooops but don't forget, speak the truth in love) 

Being a Friend

• Be a friend. Listen. Be there. A friend called me and she's crying due to  work problems and dilemmas. You know those times na talaga namang gusto mong iligtas yung friend mo from their heartaches and trials? I felt that.  I hope I could be wiser and just say the right words para lang may ma realize sya or something para maging ok na sya. Pero yun nga, at the end of the day, listen and be there. Above all, what we could do is point them to the One na may magagwa sa situation nila. To the One who loves them far more than we do. So there. Pray with them and for them. 

Family

• WE VALUE FAMILY. FAMILY SALVATION! Make disciples in  my family! Last Sunday was my brother's birthday! I gave him a shirt with the words "SALVATION IS FOUND IN CHRIST ALONE". I think he likes it kahit na medyo malaki sa kanya. Hehe. Anyway, the highlight was when I  prayed for him while we are biking! Imagine. Wala talagang pinipiling sitwasyon. :) I can just tell that God is at work in my brother. He longs for Him. Lalo na after watching the movie "God's not Dead". I really pray and come on, I DECLARE na MAGIGING MEN OF GOD ang mga kapatid ko! In Jesus' name! :) Now I'm planning to give him Ardy Roberto's Real Men are POGI. Next time, Bible naman. :) 

Leading

• For Daddy Talks, He  read my thoughts: siguro mas mag gro-grow sila kung iba yung leader nila..kasi ganito lang ako.blah blah blah..

Pero eto yung sagot Nya  in Matthew 14:15-18 :

15 As evening approached, the disciples came to him and said, “This is a remote place, and it’s already getting late. Send the crowds away, so they can go to the villages and buy themselves some food.”

16 Jesus replied, “They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat.”

17 “We have here only five loaves of bread and two fish,” they answered.

18 “Bring them here to me,”

Kahit gaano pa kaliit ang maibibigay ko asa leader, ibibigay ko muna kay Jesus yun then Sya na ang bahalang mag multiply. :) 

Random yet I really treasure these things :)