Gift of a new day

Thank you Lord for the gift of sunset (and sunrise). Indeed everyday is a reminder to be hopeful despite the good and bad situations that we encounter. You assure us that there's always something to look forward to in the next day. You are God and we are not! smile emoticon ♡ ‪#‎iamBBM‬ ‪#‎DeoGloria‬‪#‎belovedChild‬

God’s messenger

Sept. 24, 2016

Gospel: Saint Luke 9:43b-45.    
While they were all amazed at his every deed, he said to his disciples,
"Pay attention to what I am telling you. The Son of Man is to be handed over to men."
But they did not understand this saying; its meaning was hidden from them so that they should not understand it, and they were afraid to ask him about this saying.

Reflection:

"If the message does not kill you then kill the messenger."

I heard this line from Father Tom as he was giving his homily last Feb. 2, 2013 at St. Mary's Church. It is a simple message but it hides a big meaning which creates a big impact behind the simple words stated. Father Tom even joked as he ended his homily stating: "If I'm not here anymore tomorrow then you know what happened.." After that everybody started laughing and it seems they got the message that the priest was trying to share. As I reflected, I realized that the reason why God is sending us this messages is for us to share the message to others and not keep it to yourself.

The gospel reading for today is reaching out to all us that we need to pay attention more when we are amazed of the great things that the Lord is telling or showing to us because He will use several ways through persons, scriptures, situations or other means to tell us of the message that he wants us to proclaim. Oftentimes the message that he transmits will not be clear for us to understand. In this case, let’s not be afraid to ask him for clarity since the Lord will surely reveal that message through several ways. When the Lord reveals the message, our interpretation should always be guided by the Holy Spirit.

Being a receiver of God message, we should be sensitive enough and ponder deeply on what the message he is trying to reveal us because if we don’t, then we might be misled to different interpretations. Let us become a vessel of His love to others by seeking the best interest for the good of all. May we allow ourselves to become God’s messenger of peace, faith, hope, mercy, grace and love to our brothers and sisters in and out of the community.

How great is our God

How great is our God

Sing with me

How great is our God

And all will see

How great... How great is our God!

Name above all names

You are worth of all praise

My heart will sing

How great is our God

He affirms!

He affirms us in many ways. We just have to see and appreciate how great His works are. For me, the sunset expresses the feeling of calmness, joy, peace, promises to look forward to and His assurance for the next day. Thank you Lord for today and always! You are amazing! ♡♡♡♡#iamBBM #belovedChild

Status: Affirmed! <3

Bye 2015!!

So this is goodbye to the last day of 2015.. A few more hours before 2016 starts! Thank you Lord!!!!!‪#‎iamBBM‬ ‪#‎deogloria‬ ‪#‎thankyouLord‬ ‪#‎happy‬ ‪#‎pinaSMILE‬ ‪#‎prayersANSWERED‬ ‪#‎greatGOD‬

God's delay

And all I can say is Amen and may your will be done Lord.. wink emoticon #iamBBM #deogloria #thankyouLord#happy #preparingFORrain #prayersUP #holdON#GodisSTILLgood #surrender #trust #claiming

God's delay are not denials for He is preparing something great that He has already planned. Hold on. Be still. God is God and we are not. In His perfect time..

May your will be done..

FB post last January 2014

Just wait Princess

A message from God

“No man will ever claim you unless he claims you from Me. For I reserved a man for you who has My heart and loves Me even more than he loves you. For I won’t give you unless he asks you form Me. He is asleep; don’t wake him. He is busy for Me... My kingdom. Soon you will know him, but I have the perfect time. You are My princess and My daughter. Let no prince claim you unless he asks you from my hand for I am Your Father and King of kings. You, my princess is worth loving for.”

It is better for a princess like you to be asleep a hundred years and be kissed and be awake by the right prince than to stay awake and be kissed hundred times by the wrong frog.

It is better to wait for years for someone you are sure of, than to grab that chance with someone who picks you up but drops you whenever he wants to.

"Place your heart in the hands of God and He will place it in the hands of a man who he believes deserves it."

Good things come to those who wait. Just wait Princess! <3

EFG: Patience while waiting

(I got this message way back 2010 in a book titled Emails from God by Cloninger)

Not Yet (Psalm 13:2-3)

Dear Child,

Time is a strange thing. To Me, a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years is like a day. I’m outside of time. Time is just something I made in which you live. I entered time when I sent Jesus to earth. So I know how frustrating time can be.

But I also know what’s best for you. The only way you can learn patience is by waiting. Some people pray, “Lord, teach me patience,and teach it to me now!” That doesn’t make much sense. Learning patience takes time. I hear your prayers. Keep praying. I may give you an answer quickly but if I’m teaching you to trust Me no matter what, I may ask you to wait. If you can learn to trust ME, if you can learn to wait on My timing, I will use you to do great things. Will you trust Me?

Your Leader,
>God

Worry not, Trust God!

Daily Manna: OCTOBER 7, 2014 - TUESDAY

Gospel for the day: Luke 10:38-42

38 As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. 39 She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. 40 But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!” 41 “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, 42 but few things are needed—or indeed only one.[a] Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”

Reflection:

Oftentimes when we struggle too much our prayer would go like this, “Lord don’t you care? Help me.” Of course the Lord knows everything about us which includes our thoughts, actions, joys, pains, feelings, sickness, prayers, struggles, problems, heart desires and all emotions within us. The big question: Does He care? The answer is a big yes! Such situations like that are made to happen because of a purpose and a reason behind that will soon be revealed to us. Life won’t be exciting as it is if there’s only joy without pain or suffering. God designed our life the way He wanted us to live by fulfilling the purpose and plan He has planted in us. Our job now is to find and discover that purpose and allow God’s will to be done.

The gospel today teaches us that worrying and being upset is not good enough. Sometimes we have to lean unto God when all our efforts have been done and let Him be in control. A year ago, I confidently left my job because I was not happy anymore. God allowed me to be accepted in a job that’s thrice the salary offered than the previous job. I immediately grab the opportunity but because of conflicts I had to let go of that job. I thought that maybe it wasn’t for me and so I tried to face the loss yet hurt and burdened. I remained still and confident knowing God will provide the job that I have been praying for. Deep within there’s a voice telling me to leave, go on, be brave and take the risks.  

I left claiming God’s assurance that He will grant me the desires of my heart. After leaving my job then a problem came and I had a 6 months labor ban. Upon hearing that after Christmas, my confidence began to sink and I found myself crying, hopeless, worried and afraid. I was so depressed and even thought it was the end of me. There I was experiencing a deep, dark and very emotional moment. For the first time in my life I felt being abandoned, lost and alone. Being away made me feel so weak and powerless but good thing my family, friends and the community was there to build me up. Slowly, I began to be back on track. I held on to my faith and restored my prayer time with God.   

Struggle after struggle, we learn and become stronger. I never thought of the consequences that I had to face by being jobless for 4 months. I was worried and frustrated but God was there to erase all those things in my head. I continuously allowed His will to be done in my life like the song “Lord please have your way in me”. He never failed to provide me with the resources I need. He continued to assure me that He is God and He is in control of everything. God’s time is never too late and He fulfilled His promise and my faith was strengthened. Through the grace of God I found a job and all the blessings started to pour. 

Everything was a preparation for me and here I am testifying how great and wonderful He is. He took away the unnecessary things because He was preparing me for greater things that He thinks I deserve. I feel so loved and blessed beyond measure because I am God’s favorite and His beloved! 

All I can say is thank you Lord and Soli Deo Gloria (Glory to God Alone)!

#iamBBM #DeoGloria

Happy 3rd in UAE!!!

7^th October 2011, exactly 3 years ago I left the Philippines and came to the UAE bringing with me a birth certificate instead of authenticated documents or a CV. Never in my mind did I realize that I will be working here because in my heart I was seeking a mission to fulfill. I was only 22 that time and I guess I was just too childish and very much a slowpoke to realize things before it was too late but God indeed has a different plan. A month later, I was missing home, messed up and was deeply hurt yet I needed to face the reality. I committed mistakes that led to consequences that included losing friends and hurting my loved ones.

I managed to get up though nearly losing hope but yet clinging to God who was my strength. He never failed to give what I never imagined to have. He provided me with a second family and a place I call home to where I belonged. He provided me with a CV, authenticated documents, a job and finally a visa to stay here. He fixed all the things that were broken in my life and slowly but surely I was being healed. He also provided me a spiritual support through the SFC community plus the whole family ministry of CFC as a bonus! He just keeps providing me endlessly and assures me to never worry about tomorrow but just to continue trusting Him.

At the span of 3 years many things have changed. I gained through my losses, faults and failures. I am able to express myself and I am building up my confidence. I am able to handle the ups and downs of my crazy weird emotions. I have fallen in love, experienced pain, hurt, rejection, been bitter and have moved on. I struggled and worry a lot yet God’s promise always assures me. I have learned to set aside my needs for the sake of others. I experienced the feeling of true love and forgiveness through my family, service and relationships. I am continuously learning, overcoming my fears, growing as an individual and becoming matured. By the grace of God, I have improved and am on the process of being better.

Lord thank you for journeying with me not just in the UAE but beyond the distance it has led me. Thank you for bringing me to different places and witnessing your miracles unfolding. Thank you for your trust, abundant blessings and love that never failed and has reached not only me but to everyone here. Thank you for tirelessly listening and answering all my complains, wishes, prayers, heart desires and selfishness. Thank you for your sufficient grace that gave me the strength to keep holding on and never letting go which brought me here, serving, surviving and standing strong. Coming here was the best decision I made and because of that yes, my life indeed was never the same. Thank you Lord, you're da best! :)

Happy 3rd in the UAE! PARTEEEEY! :)

ROAR like a LIONESS but SMILE like a PRINCESS! <3
#iamBBM #deogloria #thankyouLord #happy #blessed

Quiz: I am Job!

What Bible Character Are You?

You got: Job

Bad things happen to good people. You know that better than anyone. Sometimes life seems like a series of struggles so focused on you that you start to wonder if someone upstairs has it in for you. It is true that God gives us as much as we can take, and it sometimes feels like you are a beast of burden. As with Job, with you, it will all make sense at the end. Keep the faith! (From: http://quizsocial.com/what-bible-character-are-you/ )

        For what I have learned when I was young, Job was a righteous man. He was blessed greatly by God because of his faithfulness. Then satan tempted God to check the faithfulness of Job. At first he gave him suffering and then he took away his riches, then his family and gave him sickness. In the end, Job remained faithful and never blamed God. In return for his faithfulness amidst trials, God rewarded him beyond what he lost.

Job: Faith under trial!

        I can’t imagine being in the shoes of Job. He had everything and then slowly it was taken away from him. It is hard to be faithful during trial and suffering. In my case I would have felt hopeless and will choose to die than endure the pain and keep living. The one thing I admire for Job was the unbreakable faith he had for God. Despite the pain and sorrows he held on to God saying he was unworthy. He never blamed God and he allowed satan to test his faith and he conquered.

        Whenever I struggle, I can’t help but complain, be worried or afraid, doubt and somehow my faith is shaken. Trials are tests that I have to pass and overcome. At times, I always fail, I feel unworthy and hopeless yet God assures me to continue being faithful just as how faithful He is. His comforting embrace is always there to ease my pain and comfort me as I struggle. In this journey the storms come and go to make us learn by shaking us that makes our faith become stronger. Without these we can never know who we are, what our purpose is, how we will do and why it happened. Once the trial is over and when God sees our faithfulness, He will bless us like how He did with Job. Faithful and generous is He and truly He’ll shower us the blessings beyond measure.

What is the posture of our heart during struggles?

Keep the faith. God is in control. He is with us always. 

God saved my 2 left fingers!!!

Usually, we don't give importance to something unless it is lost or forgotten. I realized that I almost lost 2 fingers in my left hand. Thank God it did not happen and I was surprised and even nervous. It was not because of firecrackers or anything but it was almost hit by the door in our bus. When I got in (usually the last one) and after I seated then closed the sliding door, the rubber of the door slipped off and I tried fixing it. I lost my mind because I focused on the rubber falling off when I did close the door. I was at risk on amputating my own 2 fingers on my left hand. I laughed as I massaged my finger and I was a bit caught up during the incident.

I am a left hand user by the way and I can't imagine writing or doing something if it did happen. After that, I laughed as if it was nothing but deep inside I became anxious and thought of all the what ifs. What could have happen if God didn't save me from that? I guess I am just blessed and God has greater plans for me that is why He didn't allow it to happen.

I learned I have to be aware of my actions. I have to be aware of my own safety. I have to be aware of my health. I have to be aware of my attitude. I have a lot of things to be aware of and I praise and thank the Lord for giving me a wake up calling. May I always continue the mission that the Lord has started through me as I follow and take up the journey towards Christ. May God be praised! AMEN!

(January 8, 2013)

#iamBBM

You may be wondering what's the meaning behind the hashtag..
I hope it makes you think what BBM means... Hmmmmm...

Here are some ideas that I am BBM could mean...

+ I am blackberry messenger... (hahaha kidding)
+ I am a busy bee in motion... (cooool!)
+ I am beautiful but mysterious... (proud woman here)
+ I am broken but moving on... (woah! so deeep)
+ I am blessed beyond measure.. (definitely)

#iamBBM means I AM BLESSED BEYOND MEASURE.
This blog (project) will contain all the blessings received (whether good or bad)..
No matter how I think about it.. God's never ending generosity surpasses all things and He blesses us beyond measurable units. Sometimes He gives us His grace abundantly that even we, feel we're unworthy to have them. God gives. God loves us. We are God's beloved. And God blesses us so we can be a blessing to others.

Share the blessings by being JOYFUL, PRAYERFUL AND GRATEFUL. :)
Boldly and firmly declare that "I AM BLESSED BEYOND MEASURE!" because the God of all grace has blessed me with so much that I am overflowing in thanksgiving and praise.

Soli Deo Gloria!
#iamBBM

Bye 2013!

Blessed to Dream Big. Stronger and Wiser to Survive!
All with the grace of God!

2013 has been a great year and time flew so fast!!!!!

I never thought of reaching this far..

I endured tears, stress, bruises and scars..

I learned to let it go, move on and leave it all in the past...

I encountered a lot of things..

It was Happy, sad, and stressful

But mostly all were considered as BLESSINGS!

Yes I lost, was empty, gained but now I'm overflowing and full!

I want to thank the Lord for everything He has done in my life especially for overcoming the year 2013! He revealed a lot of surprises for me, opened doors of opportunities, enhanced me to become better, trained me for the purpose of serving Him, made impossible ways possible for me, allowed me to become more creative and expressive with my art and emotions and He was motivated me to change (in a good way.)

I encountered hurts, tears, disappointments and all other emotions. I became stress, sick, homesick, depressed, hopeless but with God's grace I was able to conquer and survive them all. The experiences weren't easy to go through and I realized that as I journeyed with God, things made sense and I know that He always has a great plan ahead for me/you. The struggles were all test to see how faithful we would be when things are getting rough. Of course I realize that prayer was my weakness and I had to make it constant. God made it known to me that running to Him is the best thing to do and communicating to Him should be constant.

We get stronger, wiser, fiercer, empowered, blessed and happier.. I get to realize my own weakness and even loved my flaws. I get to be verbal about my feelings instead of keeping it all in. I get to be expressive of my emotions and I love the feeling of hugging and kissing. Working with the kids taught me how important it is to express love and being able to smile for it's an act they can easily pick up. I feel so happy with all the changes that came to me. All the negative things I had this year are all in the past and I am ready to welcome the new year with a blast. :)

Thank you for the learning, the pain, the experience, the struggle, the memories and the blessings of 2013. As we welcome 2014, may this year be a year of faith, hope, love, trust, blessing, prosperity, peace and success for all us. May we strive to continue the mission entrusted to us by God. May this year become an evangelistic one so that we can conquer and make His name be known in all the nations!

Happy New Year! Happy 2014!

Happy me! Happy you!

Hugs and Kisses! :)

Love, Sarah Kailyn