Heaven’s got blog

For this past few weeks (since the school year began), I’ve been very preoccupied, busy and stressed. So many work to do, matters to settle, thesis topics to think of - so many reasons to ask for and thank God. I hardly update my blogs and sometimes the people close to me, solely because I live away from home to be near to UST, so no internet and I only return every weekend. Too bad I have to bear this situation for a year. Yeah one year to go, and it’s “Reaping Time”. ( teary-eyed <;_;> )

Let me take this opportunity to give back all the thanksgiving to God! For all the things He has done for the past 2 months, and the past 20 years of my life.. =)

I thank You for putting me to where I am right now. I’m already in the last year of my studying career. I am circled with a loving family and great friends. Thank You for calling me, please use me for Your glory as long as I live. I thank You too for all the answers to my prayers! Finally my dad has work already. May he find a place where he can fellowship with other believers to wherever You sent him. Thanks also for being such a great provider, You see, whatever I have today, it all came from You! I have nothing to give back but all my strength, my talent, my life to You! I ask for Your guidance be upon me, my family, my friends and their families. I love You Lord! To You be the glory and honor! Amen.

I am not beautiful in the eyes of people who have different definition of “Beauty”

But in the way God defines it, I am.

I am no saint: I tease people; I laugh at others’ mistakes

But with the conviction God put in my heart, I readily admit my wrongs.

I am not perfect and will never try to reach perfection

But I put my trust on the only Being who is perfect.

I am not smart at all times, I’m no genius, I sometimes think meaninglessly

But I am wise to know that everything is meaningless, everything! My wisdom comes from God.

Sometimes, I am not strong during mighty ordeals

But I have a God who battles for me. Without Him, I am nothing.

I am not a magician that could do tricks to lift a person in the air

But I have a faith that can lift mountains into the sea. I am a believer.

I am not rich who can buy everything in this world

But I have a Father whose wealth is beyond measure. I am an heiress.

I am not a poor that begs for food to live

I have a Father who supplies my needs. I live through faith. I am content.

I am not proud. I do not boast about the things in this world.

But I take pride of my beliefs, my dreams, and my blessings to honor One Name.

I am seldom showy, expressive to people around me

But I care for them, I pray for them. I am thankful.

I am not upright, I sin, and I fall short sometimes.

But I am righteous, only because of HIM. My righteousness is Christ. I am a follower.

I am not the way others want me to be; the way others think of me

I am who I am – the way God created me.

I’ve read a poem from my friend’s blog. and he gave me the permission to repost it. Thanks Myko! I loved its message and hope it’ll convey the same thing to you. Btw, he’s source was from: “Rely On the Holy Spirit, Our Comforter” by Ptr. Vince Burke, April 06,2008.

So here’s the poem!

Whose Hands?

“A basketball in my hands is worth about $19.
A basketball in Michael Jordan’s hands is worth about $33 million.
It depends whose hands it’s in.
A rod in my hands may keep away a wild animal.
A rod in Moses’ hands will part the mighty sea.
t depends whose hands it’s in.
A sling shot in my hands is a kid’s toy.
A sling shot in David’s hand is a mighty weapon.
It depends whose hands it’s in.
Two fish and five loaves of bread in my hands is a couple of fish sandwiches.
Two fish and five loaves of bread in God’s hands will feed thousands.
It depends whose hands it’s in.
Nails in my hands might produce a birdhouse.
Nails in Jesus Christ’s hands will produce salvation for the entire world.
It depends whose hands it’s in.
As you see now it depends on whose hands it’s in.
So put your concerns, your worries, your fears, your hopes, your dreams, your families and your relationships in God’s hands because, it all depends whose hands it’s in.”

“Remember your Creator in the days of your Youth.” - Ecclesiastes 12: 1 (ASWCC Youth Verse)

Below is a collage of pictures of the the young people in our church (ASWCC). We only have a small youth ministry, but we all have a heart willing to work for God’s vineyard.

“For as long I have strength like an eagle, I will serve the Lord.”

That night was soooooo incredible! I super felt how God shook the whole Araneta! I can’t even believe I was there. Two weeks ago, I blogged about wanting to attend just one Hillsong Conference in Australia. That night is no Conference, BUT I knew deep in my heart that God gave me a peek of what it feels to be there. I also believe it was just the beginning of a dream come true! (patikim pa lang ni Lord un..hehe) Someday! In God’s perfect timing..

When Joel Houston and the whole gang went up the stage, everyone was shouting and screaming! I was no exemption..I’ve been wanting to see this group, yeah, the group who has drawn a lot of people in the world close to God through their music. Who wouldn’t want seeing them anyway? BUT God impressed something in my heart: “Aren’t you here for me?” Every time I fall short of God’s expectation to me as a worshiper and commit this kinda form of “idolatry” (is it?) God will remind me of what Darlene said somewhere I’ve read before, not exactly the same words but meant something like this: “I pray that when we stand in front of many people, performing, it is God who will be seen and be lifted up!” That’s their ultimate intention, for God’s name to be raised and not theirs. And we must not defeat that purpose. It was God’s presence that mattered most during the concert and not the band’s. Hope everyone made the same realization too.

So back to my concert review. It started 8:10 pm and finished almost or a little past 11:00. They sang 23 songs according to Dol, but wished they sang 23 more..hehe.. I wouldn’t care if I have to stay there till dawn. As a matter of fact, worshiping God uplifts our spirits. So we’ll never grow weary when we sing praises to God. I wish I could remember their exact line up of songs. Coz’ I’ve been thinking to make a playlist of it..hehe..help please!? I also wished Brooke Fraser was there. How I would love to hear her sing my favorite worship song as of this very moment: HOSANNA. Also JD too..

They first sang “Time has come” and ended with “Solution”. Joel also gave some bible readings at the beginning and in betweens.

One thing that made me glad also about this concert was how it gathered a lot of Filipino Christians and Catholics together..Hillsong United has filled the whole Coliseum with people ready and willing to offer praises to God-all UNITED to worship God. So amazing is the power of HIS music!

I hope next time it’ll be Hillsong Band naman.

I hope next time everyone in our small church could attend.

I hope next time 50 songs all in all. please!!

I hope there’s next time.

So thanks to God for giving me a small glance of my ambitious dream! Amen!

YA KNOW? : my ticket for this concert is my seventh! This is also my seventh post! (just thought it’s cool and trivial so i shared..hehe =) )

(I’m supposed to put some videos I recorded during the concert, kaso mas malakas ung boses namin than United’s hehe..wag na lng..)

When it is God who made the way, no one can deviate. Take my story as how i became a worship leader an example:

Before I became a song leader, I was already a back-up singer for many years (since I was in my second year in highschool). It’s far far from my imagination to become a worship leader. Two years ago, everyone’s been telling me that it’s time to step up and accept God’s original plan for me. I would only reply with a smile and reason out to myself that God wouldn’t want someone who’s not yet ready spiritually, which I think is true. God wants a heart that is willing, compliant and unforced. I didn’t have that heart then. I wasn’t ready yet, I was scared.

On the other hand, I also thought the fear that I had then, could be Satan’s plan to give me hesitancy. Because he doesn’t want me to be used for God’s ministry he would present me all sorts of reasons and lies that would frighten me and would make me more defiant to God. That was not an easy situation to face. For months, I’ve been running away. But God instilled His plan. The more i refuse, the more our church leaders became so persistent. waaaah! The mighty gates of heaven opened a way, where I can’t elude. haha… I can’t remember exactly what happened but an overview was, the music team had a dilemma of who’ll be the song leader for one Sunday Service, I’m not so sure now what’s all of our song leader’s reason that time..hehe, but that left me in position with no more arguments. It gave me the reason to accept the inevitable calling, of course, I can’t let the Praise and Worship suffer. And my first time to stand in front of the congregation, albeit small in number, came to passed. Woah!

Now, it’s been more than a year since I embraced my fate as a worship leader. It’s not easy though. Sometimes, I feel inadequate or I would think I’m just doing this out of obligation. I would hate myself for that. And it breaks me when I’m breaking God’s heart. It doesn’t glorify Him. How would I take these definitely wrong sentiments off of my system? All I want is to give God my whole best.

One day, as I was browsing the net, I came across a blog written by a worship leader entitled The Importance of Being a Worship Leader.

Quoting here the first paragraph which touched my heart:

Do you sometimes feel insignificant or inadequate as a worship leader? Worship has the potential to bring people before God, and worship leaders, like doorkeepers, assist by standing at the door and welcoming people into God’s presence.

Being a part of a music ministry or a worship leader tells me that we are called as God’s doorkeepers. It’s an amazing task for us. We are to open the door of God’s presence, to invite people’s hearts and to welcome the move of the Holy Spirit. Isn’t a wonderful job? But before we can draw other people near Him, we (the worship team) first should experience God, and first to be drawn to Him. What more significant position could there be, than to bring people before God in worship?

Being called as God’s Doorkeeper reminds me that God has given me a talent. A talent that I have to use only for his glory. I am called to serve God. It’s so amazing, I get to serve the King of kings. Wow! And as long as this gift remains in me, I will forever be His servant.