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Above all.... YOU thought of me...

2009-04-01T06:18:00.000-07:00

This past weekend... I attended a women's retreat for ministerial spouses. It was such a blessing!!! Such amazing women of God gathered together to share in this journey... to be lifted up to our Heavenly Father and to be reminded of how beautiful we are in God's eyes.

I realized this weekend that I haven't really fully accept God's love for me. I also realized how difficult it is for me to completely accept how precious I am in God's eyes. That when He says "You are more important to me than silver and gold." He means it... greater than silver and gold.... I couldn't see that and comprehend that. That just as I am...I am loved and cherished by my Father. I don't have to be a perfect wife & mother or need to be cheerful or I don't have to achieve greatness in my career or be a certain way... just the way I am today... HE LOVES ME!!! His love is not depended on how I look, what my dress size is, or what kind of job I have or how much I earn or if I have a house or what kind of car I drive. It does not depend on my possessions or who and what I am ... He just LOVES me ... He LOVES you... whatever ... whoever we are today!

Wow... it's so unreal, isn't it?! But it is REAL. It's the most real thing in this world. His LOVE for us is so AMAZING! I have to relearn and reaccept this every day... when I'm feeling insecure and self-doubt... I have to remember who I am in Christ. I am HIS child! His!... this King... this amazing GOD... is-my-FATHER!!! I am His princess.... you are His princess... His prince.... who is loved dearly. The kind of LOVE that we have never experienced... that surpasses ALL understanding!

I (we) can go forward and walk today... everyday... confident in His love. To be ok and proud of who I am right now and know that I am good and I will keep on growing and learning. I will not judge myself according to the world but to see the goodness that my Lord sees in me... to see the potential that He sees in me. To know that I am worth it.... so much so that my Jesus... my Saviour died for ME! He thought of me on that cross... me!

Today, I claim His love for me and walk in confidence and joy knowing that I am cared for and protected. I will rejoice today because I know who I am in Christ!!! Today, I will share that joy and love to all I meet. To let them know how precious they are ... how good they are and how LOVED they are! They are loved by the Creator, the King, the One the knows all... the past, present and future... and He gave all so that we can live with Him in love eternally.

Abba, thank you for loving me as I am today... and may this praise bring glory to You. I love you, Abba!!!

Above All (Worship God Album Version) - Rebecca St. James

music to my ears...

2009-03-13T07:57:00.000-07:00

A few night ago, my soon to be 11-year-old son led out our family worship. He loves to sing hymns but is very shy about it. He doesn't like singing in front of other people and most of the times at home, he adds his own spin to the hymns. lol. Anyway, that night I was feeling especially tired so I wasn't singing quite so lively so I let someone else lead the singing. And guess who decided to lead?!!! Yes, my little boy! (except he`s not little anymore and no longer a boy... he's a little man now) He loves to sing around our home. It isn't unusual to hear him sing a few hymns here and there throughout the evening after school. But sometimes he stops if he notices that I`m listening to him. I think it`s because singing hymns aren't exactly cool for an 11-year-old boy to do! =) Anyway, for our worship he picked the song, "In the Garden" ... one of my favourites (and my Mama`s as well)! =) And as he was singing... I was watching him and just felt so blessed to have this little man in our lives. He's growing so fast. He's even more self aware and conscious about himself and the people around him. At times, he'll catch me off guard with the things he says and how mature he sounds and I would have to look twice to make sure that's my son talking. So moments like that family worship are so precious because I get a glimpse of the little boy that is slowly disappearing into adolescence.

God has truly blessed my life!

Trying to find strength...

2009-03-10T12:10:00.000-07:00

Strength for the Journey

~Don't worry that you're not strong enough before you begin. It is in the journey that God makes you strong.

"The Lord shall guide thee continually and satisfy thy soul." Isaiah 58:11

A day that puts a SMILE on your face....

2009-03-05T15:52:00.000-08:00

I've had one of those days... where you just know you're so blessed!

It was so beautiful out today... the sun was shining, the wind was blowing (a little to much...) and it just put a smile on my face. I lifted my face and closed my eyes and just stayed in that moment. I then looked around and saw a place that`s become home to me... to my mind... that`s no longer strained and stressed, to my heart... that`s learn to heal and love... to my body... that learning to be His temple... and to my soul... that is being fed and filled by my Father! I looked around this place and my heart just filled with such warmth, joy and peace... I just LOVE it here! I knew our time here is temporary... but lately it`s been hitting me how much I will MISS it here... how much I will long to feel the breeze and to see the sky so blue and clear. How much I will miss the sounds of the birds singing and the children laughing outside as they play.

I know that God has somewhere else He wants us to be and I couldn't ask for us to stay here because He`s given us so much already... our time here was a gift from Him... a gift that I will always cherish! This is our home...

Thank you, Father, for bring us here... to relearn what life is about and how it must be lived.

"Satisfied"

2009-02-18T10:42:00.000-08:00

A few weeks ago, my husband was looking for a song to sing for Sabbath morning at church. He was looking for a specific song called "Satisfied". I remembered telling him to just sing one of the songs that he already has but he seemed determine to get this song. I didn't understand why until I heard the song and the words just brought tears to my eyes.

Satisfied
by Ronnie Freeman

You satisfy my soul
And I stand amazed at the blessings I've known
And still to this day, the mercies You've shown
Make it clear to see, that You love me

And You give each breath I breathe
You colour the sky with beauty for me
You've proven that You will provide for my needs
The way You fill me Lord, how could I ask for more

When I'm satisfied, satisfied...
I've been cared for so faithfully
But Lord hear my plea
And let it be, that You're satisfied with me

And You give me grace without end
And You have forever removed all my sins
And now the Maker of heaven and earth call me friend
And from the joy this brings, oh how my spirit sings

And I'm satisfied, I'm satisfied
I've been cared for so faithfully
But Lord hear my plea
And let it be that You're satisfied with me...
Oh, satisfied
I've been cared for so faithfully,
But Lord hear my plea
And let it be that You're satisfied,
That you're satisfied,
please say you're satisfied... with me.
-----------------

This song is such a beautiful song! I get so emotional because it speaks exactly of how I feel. How God has faithfully taken care of me! How he's come through over and over again for my family. He's provided for all things before we even got the chance to sit down and discuss the situation. It's a beautiful song that sings about my wonderful Father in Heaven!

God, may this bring glory to You and may the lips of those who hear this song utter such wonderful praises to You!

A must read book...

2009-02-05T16:32:00.000-08:00

I recently started reading the book called, The Adventist Home by Ellen White. This book is filled with wisdom on family and marriage! I tell you I regret not reading this book decades ago! If you haven’t read this book, you have to even if you don’t have a family of your own yet or married or even dating. This is a good book for anyone to read.

I’m only at chapter 4 but I’m really enjoying reading it and learning as I go. Here are a few excerpts that I really thought are so very true.

“The well-being of society, the success of the church, the prosperity of the nation, depend upon home influences.
The elevation or deterioration of the future of society will be determined by the manners and morals of the youth growing up around us. As the youth are educated, and as their characters are molded in their childhood to virtuous habits, self-control, and temperance, so will their influence be upon society. If they are left unenlightened and uncontrolled, and as the result become self-willed, intemperate in appetite and passion, so will be their future influence in molding society. The company which the young now keep, the habits they now form, and the principles they now adopt are the index to the state of society for years to come.”
(page 15)

Isn’t that just the truth! Our homes are the building blocks of society. Don’t get me wrong, my home is far from perfect and my childhood even farther from not being “dysfunctional” but despite that the influences of my christian parents especially my Mom who constantly reminded us of God’s love and mercy and goodness made a lasting impression in me. It is so important that we guard our children even before they are born that they are immersed in His love, His teachings and His way of living!

Ellen White goes on to say this about the home:

“The home should be to the children the most attractive place in the world, the mother’s presence should be its greatest attraction. Children have sensitive, loving natures. They are easily pleased, and easily made unhappy. By gentle discipline, in loving words and acts mothers may bind their children to their hearts.”
(page 21)

Upon reading this, it brought such vivid memories of when I was a child. I couldn't wait to go home from school to see my Mama who was always waiting for us to get home. And when she started working, I would wait up for her... I would sleep on the couch hugging her sleeping-dress so I would feel that I’m close to her. My Mama for me was definitely one of the greatest attraction to going home... it still is!

I hope and wish that every child in this world could have what Ellen White describe of what home should be. But one thing is for sure, we can be assured that when we abide in Christ Jesus... it’s like being in a “home” filled with pure and perfect love where no hurtful words are spoken, no put downs, or disappointments and never empty promises! And having tasted that kind of love, patience and nurturing... I crave for my new home in the new earth with my Father beside me.

Moments with Jel

2009-02-04T17:17:00.000-08:00

Cyanide & Happiness @ Explosm.net

LOL! I love it! =)

Psalm 23

2009-01-29T12:10:00.000-08:00

My nephews, Ethan and Sabien, reciting Psalm 23 on Sabbath worship. They are so inspiring! They are currently trying to memorize scriptures and keep it in hearts. These children are witnesses for God! I'm definitely encouraged to memorize and keep scriptures in my heart. =) They did a great job!

Welcoming the Sabbath...

2009-01-23T16:05:00.000-08:00

My family and I sang praises to our wonderful Father above to welcome His holy day. What a wonderful way to welcome the Sabbath! We sang beautiful hymns that spoke of God's wonderous love and His faithfulness, of how sweet it is to trust in Jesus, and that in His heart there is love for us. It felt so peaceful and so fulfilling to worship our Creator.

I will praise you, Lord, with all my heart;

before the "gods" I will sing your praise.

I will bow down toward your holy temple

and will praise your name

for your unfailing love and your faithfulness,

for you have so exalted your solemn decree

that it surpasses your fame.

When I called, you answered me;

you greatly emboldened me.

May all the kings of the earth praise you, Lord,

when they hear what you have decreed.

May they sing of the ways of the Lord,

for the glory of the Lord is great.

Though the Lord is exalted, he looks kindly

on the lowly,

but he takes notice of the proud from afar.

Though I walk in the midst of trouble,

you preserve my life.

You stretch out your hand against the

anger of my foes;

with your right hand you save me.

The Lord will vindicate me;

your love, Lord, endures forever --

do not abandon the works of your hands.

--- Psalm 138

God, we praise your name and may you be glorified in all things we do and say! I'm so happy for this special day with you. Thank you, Father, for giving us a day set aside just for us to be with you and you alone. We love you, Abba Father!

May you be filled with the Spirit of God as you celebrate His day!

2009-01-23T07:10:00.000-08:00

My nephews reciting Psalm 23. So beautiful!!!

http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#/video/video.php?v=71208642872

The Secret

2009-01-20T16:02:00.000-08:00

I met God in the morning,
when my day was at its best
And His presence came like sunrise,
like a glory in my breast.

All day long the presence lingered;
all day long He stayed with me;
and we sailed in perfect calmness
o`er a very troubled sea.

Other ships were blown and battered,
other ships were sore distressed,
but the winds that seemed to drive them
brought to us a peace and rest.

Then I thought of other mornings,
with a keen remorse of mind,
when I too had loosed the moorings
with the presence left behind.

So I think I know the secret,
learning from many a troubled way;
you must seek Him in the morning
if you want Him through the day.

---Ralph Cushman

I find that whatever the day brings, I am better equipped to manage it when I first spend time with Him. I can`t say that my days are smooth sailing... those days are few and far between but it`s definitely better when I`ve spend some time with Him!

Thank you, My wonderful Father, for spending my day with me! I`m humbled by Your goodness and faithfulness in my life!