Prophecy for the Philippines by Cindy Jacobs

Got this from Jenny Caspe's Multiply site... Inspires me to continue to pray for the Philippines.

http://ivanpicazo.multiply.com/video/item/5?mark_read=ivanpicazo:video:5&replies_read=5&goto=5#reply5

Go, Philippines!

Lego City

When I was in Jakarta, I visited Lego City in Senayan. It looked really nice. From a distance, one wouldn't think that everything was just lego. There were tall buildings, boats, planes, trains, cars... I was just amazed at the creativity. But then, the God who created the Earth is the essence of creativity. So it's no wonder that the people He created are very creative.

December 2007

December was really action-packed for me. Maybe it was some sort of a catching up as it was the last month of the year. Here are some pictures...



"Extraordinary Light" was Kids on Fire's theme for the Christmas program this year. It was a simple presentation showing all the kids how they could be "light" among their friends.

(posing in front of a Sumatran house)

Indonesia has a rich cultural heritage. It's a blessing to be able to live here.

I got to join Mawar Sharon's Aksi Natal activity with the Pasukan Kuning (Surabaya's garbage collectors). It was such a blessed time to see the smiles on their faces as this was the first time that they were appreciated for their role in the community.



I declared myself to be Pak Tony's and Ibu Mei's youngest daughter. But Maria and Monic always protest, they say I should be Jie-jie. But then, I say that it doesn't seem to show. :) This photo was taken during MSI's Christmas Service on Decemeber 23.


A day after Christmas, I visited an orphanage in Mojokerto along with some other teachers from school. It was simple a celebration of sharing and remembering God's goodness in our lives. These 2 girls show what joy and contentment is. They were so happy even with just a simple meal of rice and fried chicken. We have so much to learn from children. :)



With Riri and Reni at the school's Christmas lunch at Majapahit hotel. We had a great time eating dimsums. After lunch, each level gave a short presentation. It was simple but meaningful.

Learning by doing - that' exactly what the kids did when they had their field trip at Papa Ron's. We all got to see how pizza was made and everyone got the chance to make a pizza. And of course, the best part was the eating part! Yummm....

(Daniel Class with its own rendition of "O Holy Night!")

Christmas was a time of remebering all of God's goodness in my life. I've seen His faithfulness throughout the whole year. I just want to thank God for loving me that He gave Jesus to die for me. I can never thank Him enough!

Christmas Celebration 2007

(Sam's borrowed halo covering my face... Vanessa wondering if Sam's going to bring home her halo)

Mawar Sharon celebrated Christmas as a spiritual family at Jatimexpo this morning. The theme for this year is Damai di Surga, Damai di Bumi (Peace in Heaven, Peace on Earth). It was a wonderful time of praising and worshipping God. As a church, they tried to bring 'light' all over Surabaya by serving the different sectors of the city. It was a touching moment watching the video clip of the month-long activity.
God truly loves Indonesia. This nation will soon be a nation God-worshippers! I am excited to see every Indonesian bowing down to the only God there is, the one true God who created heaven and earth.

While in this morning's celebration, I somehow missed my own church in the Philippines. It was always a great time celebrating Christmas with my Victory family. I always thought that whenever the various churches gather together to celebrate, I get a foretaste of what it would be like in heaven. But then, heaven would be a thousands time better!

Thank you Father for the greatest gift of all! Jesus! Holy Spirit thank you for being with me always!

Merry Christmas!

Faith like that of a child's!

A few days ago, i gave my students a review for their final test in the form of a game. I grouped them in 5's. Each of the members of the groups had to come to the front and answer a question. I warned the other children who were waiting for their turn to keep quiet 'coz any noise that they make will mean a point against their group.

All of the children wanted their groups to win so they followed the rule. But as typical of all young children, they began to feel restless so some of them started to talk to each other thus making noise. Automatically, I deducted points from their groups to show them that I was serious about the rule. Seeing this, they immediately stopped talking and tried to control themselves. But they were still wriggly, so I gave them the "look" (the look that says one more strike and you're out).

Not knowing what else to do, they started kneeling and praying for their friends. At first, I didn't know what they were doing. I was about to reprimand them for making a lot of noise, when I heard one child say, " Lord, please help my friend. Please help her answer the question correctly." I didn't know if I was going to laugh or cry.

For months, I've been talking about prayer and building a realtionship with God. At one point, I felt like I was talking to a bunch of statues. I wasn't sure if they understood all that I was telling them. But seeing them pray for their friends at a simple game like that made me realize that God's Word will always accomplish the work that it has been sent for. (Isaiah 55: 11)

It also dawned on me that if we could only have faith like that of child's, then life would be much simpler. That's the reason why God said in the Gospels that if we don't become like children, we will never be able to enter His
Kingdom. For children, faith is such a simple thing. Give everything to God - worries, problems, ambitions, plans, future- and He will take care of them.

Oh, that we would have faith like that of a child's!

"The Button"

As I was folding up my laundry 2 weeks ago, I discovered that a button was missing from one of my blouses. I really felt really sad coz this particular blouse was a favourite. I just resigned myself to not being able to wear that blouse ever again.

A week after losing the button, I saw my friend and her child arguing about something outside my house. Apparently, my friend's child has a nasty habit of picking up small things from the road. This annoys my friend very much as her child has another nasty habit of putting her hands into her mouth. So when I saw them outside my house, they were arguing over something "green and small". I was just laughing it off coz I am used to this scene. But when I looked at the object of their debate, I felt my heart stop and beat faster than ever coz there in the middle of the street was my missing button! What are the odds of me finding the button? One in a million!!!!

The small green button has become so special for me. Whenever I see it, I am reminded that God is concerned not just of the major things in my life but also of the seemingly unimportant things. I just feel like God is hugging me and telling me that I am truly loved by Him.

Children: Our Greatest Resource and Our Future

(students in my school)

The students in my school have just been extra sweet this past few weeks. It just touches my heart when I hear them call my name while walking in the corridor or when they give me an extra-tight hug for nothing. As a teacher, I realize that I have an important role to play in helping my students become all that God wants them to be. Robert Coles, a professor at Harvard Medical school urges us to regard children as fellow human beings yet to be constricted and constrained the way that some of us have been as we have made the various compromises that are called growing up.

Children are just like us in every way. Every time I get the chance to observe them, I see that I am just like them, just bigger. As Prof Coles puts it, they are "human beings struggling to figure out what this world means." The job that God has entrusted me is such a tremendous privilege. I get to teach the future leaders of the world. But it's also a great responsibility as I have to be careful with the things that I impart to them. I need to be an example.

I couldn't imagine myself doing something else. I never dreamed of becoming a teacher. But here I am, working as a teacher. Teaching is much more than just a profession. It is a lifelong calling that enriches me and draws me closer to the One who created me. I know that I cannot give what I don't have so I have to consciously make the decision to grow more intimate with God. So what comes out of me is just an overflow of God's love for me.

My desire is to be the best teacher that I could ever be. I want to impact the lives of many children who will one day be the leaders of this world. Oh what an exciting thought it is, to know that I may be shaping the hearts and minds of future presidents, scientists, business magnates or even future superstars. ;-)

Vacation!

Today is the start of my 2-week vacation (Hari Raya Holiday). How exciting! Looking forward to resting and resting and resting ... Funny 'though how my body knows that it's already time for vacation. The moment i finished school yesterday I felt sick, like I had a headache. But I prayed that I would not be sick. I don't want to be sick. I want to enjoy my vacation. I don't want to spend my vacation in bed.

Thank God! When I woke up this morning, I was feeling better. I had quite a morning! I spent it moving my things to my new place. Yes, I'm moving to a new house (for the 'nth time). Hahaha. I enjoyed cleaning the floors and walls. I just have to unpack my things... It would take me quite some time 'though 'coz I have tons of stuff. Well, there's no rush! I have 2 weeks!

Yipee! It's rest for me for 2 weeks!

Happy! I'm Happy!

One of the teachers that I work with came up to me this morning and said, "You look different today, you look happy!" Trying to keep my cool, I calmly responded, "Really?" Deep down inside me, I was ecstatic. I didn't think that anyone would notice that God was doing something inside my heart and it was causing all this excitement. . . this "happiness".

The word "happy" is a term that we commonly use in our everyday language. We see a child smile and we say, "the child is happy." When we meet somebody whom we haven't seen in a long time, we say, "I'm happy to see you". Almost all greetings that we have for special celebrations would have happy in them... Happy Birthday, Happy Anniversary, Happy Thanksgiving...

What does the word happy exactly mean? Webster defines the word "happy" as favored by luck or fortune. It also defines it as notably fitting, effective or well-adapted. But it is this last definition of "happy" that I think would be most fitting to describe what God is doing in my life... Being happy is enjoying or characterized by well-being or contentment.

A few days ago, I made a commitment to consistently choose to be happy no matter what. I must say that it has been one of the best decisions that I have ever made. Not only do I get to have this "smiley" on my face all throughout the day but I get to be a blessing to many. I didn't expect my co-teacher to notice that I was happy but it just seems to overflow. It's something that I could not contain, it doesn't wanna stay inside me. It has to be let out...to be shared.

The "happiness" that I have inside me stems out of the knowledge that I am in Gods hands. Everything is in His hands. I don't have to worry. I just have to trust. The moment I made the decision to be happy, everything just seemed to changed. Things look brighter... my future looks brighter. Now, I can rest, be still and stay "happy"!

I'm Back!

I haven't written any blog in the last 4 months. But I'm back! I just feel inspired to keep on writing...

I'm happy. Just so happy! God is doing a lot of things in my life. I'm so stubborn a lot of times but God is very patient with me. He doesn't give up! Yes, He doesn't give up. He just doesn't wanna let me go. I just love Him... I love Him coz He loved me first. His love is amazing. Soooo amazing!!!!

Yes, God loves me, of this I'm sure. Yipeeeee!