Shining Like Stars

My friends and I 'stole' this little boy a few days ago. His name's Raka and he seemed so comfortable in our house. Raka is just one of the many kids who play outside our gate every day. Right after moving to the new staff house, I felt a burden for the kids in the neighbourhood. I knew that I can bless them by teaching them English. However, I didn't know who to approach or ask for help about starting the ministry.

Last month, Ms Lina, also a teacher in MSCS, told me that she was planning to start a ministry in our neighbourhood and she was wondering if I could help. Immediately I said yes. I knew that this is an opportunity for me to be a blessing. I was excited. We started our English class 2 weeks ago. The children are always excited, very eager to learn. It is such a joy teaching them. :-) I am so grateful that God has opened the door for me and my friends so we can shine like stars in the darkness.

Gibby

I met Gibby at a children's revival meeting last week. My friends and I were jumping up and down during praise and worship when he suddenly appeared in front of us and showed us the 'right' moves. I couldn't help but laugh coz he looked so adorable and funny.

I took pictures of him while he was dancing. But he came to me and asked me to erase them coz he said he didnt want me to take pictures of him. He tried to look shy. But then, after a while it didn't really take much prodding to have him pose and smile in front of the camera. :-) I'm glad I met Gibby coz I was reminded that life was just so simple. And there's always lots of reasons to smile.

Humility in Service

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

Mark 10:45

We had our Easter celebration yesterday and all the students prepared a short presentation. The Kindergarten 1 students presented a skit on Jesus washing the feet of His disciples. It got me thinking about the reason why I am in ministry. I was convicted because most of the time I serve people only because of want of recognition or praise, and not because of love.

A few weeks ago, while reflecting on my life, I realized that I am always eager to please people. I want people to praise me, whether it be from my family, friends, boss, colleagues, pastor, co-workers in the ministry, it's all the same. I want them to praise me for the things that I do. I feel important when I am needed. I draw my value from my achievements, from the approval of men. I am on a spiritual high whenever people are applauding my efforts.

But Jesus came to Earth to save us because He loved us. He didn't need the approval of men because He was secure in the Father's love. He served people because He loved them and not because He wanted them to like Him. That is what I'm trying to do now, learning to serve like Jesus. I have a long way to go but at least I'm trying . :-)

Some thoughts on Valentine's Day :-)

It's Valentine's Day and I got 3 candies from a boy. Isn't it exciting! I got myself a Valentine... It's just that this boy is just about 4 ft tall and he's way younger than me. Hahaha. :-)

This morning I asked my Kindergarten students to watch a video about perseverance. As they were going in to the computer room (which we also use as a video room), I quickly reminded them that they were to get a chair right away and sit quietly while I prepare some stuff. While most of the kids said 'yes' without a fuss, I noticed a kid not paying attention to what I was saying as he was busy getting something out of his pocket. I was about to reprimand him for not paying attention when he suddenly reached out his hand and said, "for you".

I was speechless for a moment 'cause I saw in his right hand some of the candies that he got from the Heart Pinata. I was teary-eyed seeing that I was the recipient of such selfless giving, and to think that I was just 1 second away from reprimanding him. I felt like I didn't deserve it. He was supposed to keep all of it for himself just like what any other kid would normally do. But then he decided to give some of it to me. It was just so sweet. :-D

I was then reminded of God's love for me. Every day he shows me how much he loves me but then I'm too busy to notice. I'm so preoccupied with a lot of things that I deem to be much more important than intimacy with Him. I'm too busy to hear Him telling me how much He loves me, too busy to see that He has given everything to me.

Oh that I would always see

God's great love for me.

In big things or in small,

I will always listen when He calls.

Oh that I would always be His friend,

and run with Him 'til the end.

O how I love you, Lord!

Intimacy with God

(Grade 2 students praying)

God has been so patient with me. I've been telling Him that I will spend more time with Him in devotional prayer but I keep on delaying. I always say that I will do it tomorrow. But the tomorrows were just piling up and I still haven't fulfilled my promise to him.

As a teacher, I emphatically tell my students that they have to learn to pray and read the Bible on a daily basis. One day as I was getting ready for class, I just felt so empty. It was like all my strength was sucked out of me. I saw a picture of me teaching and as I was talking 'something' was pulling things out of my spirit. Then I realized that every time I teach, there is something that I give away in the spiritual. I remember when I was in college a pastor in my church said, "you can't give what you don't have". I knew that I just had to repent. I felt so tired and it was all because I kept on giving when there was very little in me. I was so busy looking for ways to serve Him when all He wanted was for me to seek intimacy with Him.

I praise God for His great mercy. 'Though I am unfaithful, He's still faithful. I fail Him many times but He patiently waits for me to rise up and start anew.

The prayer below is from Passion for Jesus by Mike Bickle. I made it to be my personal prayer as I long to know Him intimately.

O Lord, we have seen just a little bit of Your splendor and majesty. The beauty of who You are and what You do is capturing our hearts like a lovely, irresistible fragrance. From this point on I want my life to be one unbroken journey of progression in holy passion. Draw me, Lord. Draw me to your glorious self. I don't want to be at a distance. I want you, no matter what it costs me. Draw me Jesus, and I will run after you! Amen!

A Blog to Commemorate UP's Centennial Celebration

(A pose at Acad Oval on my last visit to UP)

On the night of my 16th birthday, I was ready to leave for Dumaguete to apply for college in Silliman University. I was all set, all my bags were packed. Amazingly, I heed my father's advice and decided to go to UP instead. For months, he's been asking me to choose UP instead of Silliman. He said that it would be better for me to attend college there. I kept on saying no because I felt like Quezon City seemed so far away. But I don't know what came over me that night coz I said "yes". And I'm glad I did! My UP days were some of the best days of my life!


I met a lot of great people in UP! I learned a lot of things in UP! I grew closer to God in UP! UP is the best!!!



Here is a blog to commemorate my alma mater's centennial year.
UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES
http://www.upd.edu.ph/

1. ANO'NG STUDENT NUMBER MO? >> 95-48521 (alala ko pa!)





2. ANO ANG FIRST CHOICE MO NA COURSE?>> BAA...Gusto kong yumaman... :) Kaso di ako nakapasa



3. SECOND CHOICE? >> ComSci



4. ANO COURSE MO NA NATAPOS? COLLEGIO?>> BS HRA (CHE)



5. NAG-SHIFT KA BA? >> Yes



6. SAAN KA NAG UPCAT? >> WMSU, Zamboanga City



7. NAKAPAG-DORM KA BA? >> Yes, Kalayaan and Kamia and tabi ng Yakal :-)



8. NAKA UNO KA BA? >> Yes.



9. NAG-KA 3 KA NA BA? >> Yes - Chemistry



10. LAGI KA BANG PUMAPASOK SA KLASE? >> No! Lalo na pag 7 ang class.



11. MAY SCHOLARSHIP KA BA? >> STFAP for some sems. 12. ILANG UNITS NA ANG NAIPASA MO? NAGING CS OR US KA BA?>> All of them. Hindi ako naging CS or US.



13. NANGARAP KA BA NA MAG-CUM LAUDE? >> Minsan nangarap din.



14. FAVE PROF >> Madami...Nat Sci 2 Geo Prof (forgot his name), Prof Guggenheim, Prof Tingzon, Prof Tumacruz



15. WORST TEACHER: >> History Professor, can't remember his name



17. WORST SUBJECT: >> PE - Defense for Women -- lagi ako pasa-pasa and I had to wake up really early



18. FAVE BUILDING: >> The main lib.





19. PABORITONG KAINAN: >> Beach House, sarap ng bbq!



20. NUNG ESTUDYANTE KA PA MAGKANO BAANG BINABAYAD MO SA JEEP?>> 1.50



21. LAGI KA BA SA LIBRARY? >> Yes!!!



22. ILANG BESES KA BUMOTO SA STUDENT COUNCIL? >> Twice...i think.





23. MAY CRUSH KA BA SA CAMPUS?>> Yeah… madami… 24. ANU-ANO ANG MGA NAGING PE MO? >> Table Tennis, Camping, Defense for Women and Bowling



25. KAMUSTA NAMAN ANG BLOCK NYO? SINO UNA MONG NAKILALA?>> Masaya ang block namin. Sheryl Mercado was in Kalayaan dorm so I usually went to class with her.



26. MEMORIZE MO BA ANG ALMA MATER SONG NIYO?>> UP naming mahal… pamantasang hirang... Hindi ko na-memorize :)



27. SUMALI KA BA SA MGA RALLY?>> I joined the EDSA 2 rally pero naka-graduate na yata ako nun.



28. KUMUHA KA BA NG SATURDAY CLASSES? >> Yes. No choice. Most of the major subjects in HRA were only on Saturdays.



29. ANO ANG ORG/FRAT/SOROROTY MO? >> UP VCF, UP Navs, UP DCF, UP Jambangan, Applicant sa UP SHARP :)





30. NAG ENJOY KA BA SA UP?
>> Super!!! Ang saya!

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!