Proud Lefty!

August 13 is the International Left-Handers day! I didn't know that they celebrated this. I only found out about it last week. Being a lefty became a struggle at first but as I embraced it, I began to slowly discover the uniqueness and amazing talent it has revealed to me.

As I grew up I had a hard time dealing with situations because I was left handed. It's challenging to write using a right handed chair and my side or back hurts from trying to adjust with the chair. We rarely have left handed chairs and whenever we have one it's gives me relief. I always have pen marks on my left hand as a result of writing. Whenever I write something I always have a different penmanship and I don't have a permanent one. Weird? My handwriting is difficult to read when I'm in a hurry but if I want it to be read I have to write very slowly and beautifully. Whenever I write, it would be different than how the right handers do or it's in a reverse way because somehow it's connected with the brain and perception.

Whenever I see something and when I try to copy it, it's in reverse. I also notice when I'm learning to dance I have a hard time doing the moves correctly. Before I struggled with directions especially east and west. I am often confused with left and right sides or maybe my brain is telling me otherwise. When eating whichever utensil I pick up first would be ok with me since I can use them reversely. Before I didn't like the subject arts because I also have a hard time expressing myself. I didn't know that being a lefty was a challenging part of growing up. Honestly I find it weird and hard to explain but maybe that's how left handers think. I hope so!?

Few years later, I was able to appreciate the gift of being a lefty. I am amazed at the uniqueness and the ability I can do. I have started loving arts and I learned how to draw. It started in high school when I was influenced by my classmates who loved drawing. Also there's an anime show that was popular and I became an addict of the Japanese culture - origin of Anime and Manga. I have exposed myself to colors, painting, drawing, solving math and even dancing which I hated.

In college, I realize I was capable of doing more but then due to busy schedules I was unable to do what I loved to do when I was in high school. Despite that I was able to discover a new talent which was photography, videography and learning how to edit using photoshop. I loved reading/looking at colorful pictures in books/sites. I also started to learn the guitar and I have enjoyed it. I had a meaningful college life with full of colors, fun and tears. Nothing compares to the fullness of life that I have discovered being a YFC.

Years past and I found myself working in Dubai. My art skills were challenged and I enjoyed working in the nursery. I loved preparing crafts, acting as teacher, taking care of kids and my drawing skills were rekindled. I learned doodling plus adobe editing. I had several projects and I have fun. I am attracted to quizzes/games with colors expecially the rubiks cube. A lot has changed and looking back made me realize how being a lefty is a blessing. So far I am proud of who I became to be because God has blessed and given me with so much. Whatever I have now is all thanks to His grace, love and providence. And I want to thank God for creating me uniquely and I'm a proud lefty! :)

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)

I will walk on water Lord..

Matthew 14:22-33New International Version (NIV)

22 Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd. 23 After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. Later that night, he was there alone, 24 and the boat was already a considerable distance from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it. 

25 Shortly before dawn Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. 26 When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear.

27 But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.”

28 “Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.”

29 “Come,” he said.

Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus.30 But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!”

31 Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said,“why did you doubt?”

32 And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. 33 Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”

Peter cried out: "Lord save me!"

Jesus reached his hand, "Man of little faith, why did you doubt?"

I see the myself in the character of Peter. He may be old but his faith is like a child. His desire to spread the good news was one of the reasons why God chose and called him despite his unworthiness. He was a fisherman, a man with words, failures and a sinner like me. He can be fearful at the face of trial yet he can be strong enough to preach the gospel of God. He would say yes, firmly obey and witness God's miracle unfold before his eyes. He loved Jesus and looks up to him. He followed his master yet he denied him three times. Despite his doubts and insecurities still God was pleased with him. He hold the keys to heaven. He is a pillar of the church. He was crucified the opposite way and after his death look at where and how the Catholic faith has grown now?

Like Peter, I can be brave and confident to say yes knowing God won't abandon me but when trials struck me down I can be shaken easily. I guess I have a strong belief and my Christian faith is really important to me. The reason why I can't say no is because I know that there's a reason why God has called me and what He asks of me is my firm YES. Well saying yes can be a difficult thing because you really have to stand up for it and you are liable with what you say. There are times that I doubt easily when there are situations that I don't understand. It is hard especially in the time of struggle yet God assures me to keep the faith and walk on water as what He did. He wants me to journey with him and assures me that I am not alone. And when the storms of doubt, fear and struggles come, the Lord will hold my hand, will save me and will calm the storm. I know I have to call on him and be still knowing He is God and I am not.

Here's my fave line of the song: Walk on water by Woodstruck

You came so unexpectedly just when I thought my life was made..

You said My Child come follow me. With all my fears I surrendered..

Chorus: I will walk on water Lord. You have called me. You have called my name..

If it's you Lord I will go..

Obey and Witness!

Imported from CFC Desert Sun

http://cfcdesertsun.blogspot.ae/2013/10/obey-and-witness.html

Shared after NATCON 2013

(Posted last October 2013)

Every conference is a blessing for God to teach and mold us.

It is a gathering of God's people with sessions to learn from and an opportunity to worship.

I have always looked forward to attending conferences because it's a way for me to grow,

learn and improve myself.

During the conference, I realized that becoming a witness is not just about

listening to God but voicing out. He desires that we should proclaim His greatness.

Being a witness is allowing Christ to work through us with our brothers and sisters.

It's also an opportunity for me to serve God through documenting the event. 

I was asked to take pictures during the conference. I willingly obeyed and tried my best.

At first I was nervous and I felt clueless. I didn't know what to do and how to do it.

I felt blank and somehow a bit pressured. I know I'm not a professional photographer

but I just love photography.

I don't own a DSLR but I have a point and shoot camera.

I didn't have the capability but with God's grace He blessed my ability.

It was challenging for me in the beginning but God gave me strength to fulfill it.

God didn't allow me to doubt because He believed in my capacity.

He kept whispering to me: "Do whatever He tells you."

He kept encouraging me to go on even if it doesn't make sense. 

He kept reminding me to "Obey and witness!" I followed Him and He made me

feel confident that I can.

He took away my shyness and empowered me to go on.

He removed my doubts & unworthiness.

He is a great God! I even learned about adjusting the effects/settings in the cam

and though my flash wasn't working, I just kept documenting!

Indeed, Praise God! I was able to capture images of Him and documented

some parts of the event through videos.

Stolen shot :)

Bless the work of my hands that I may bring back all the glory to you!

Thank you Lord for your grace and I will be a witness of your love! AMEN!

By Sis Sarah Lauren Lim

SFC UAE

Movie: Miracle in Cell no. 7

4 weeks ago, I watched "Miracle in cell no. 7". It was a tear jerker movie that emphasizes on the love of a family, importance of relationships, doing good without expecting in return, obtaining justice that one deserves and seeing a dose of reality. What happened in the movie was evident in our society today. Many are wrongly accused of the crimes they did not commit. They don't get justice that they deserve, somehow they are force to pay the sentence that is placed on them and they are unable to defend themselves because they are poor.

In the movie, the father was imprisoned for a crime he did not commit. He was mentally incapable and he had a daughter whom he loved so much. Despite his incapability, He managed to help other people who was in need even if it would cost him his life. He is kind hearted, loving and caring to the people surrounding him. He was beaten and hurt several times but He never showed anger towards them. His fatherly image showed how much he loved his Ye-sung despite his unjust circumstances.

He built friendship in cell no. 7 which was the most difficult cell in the prison. He saved his roommate (who was the "boss" in prison) from being stabbed on the side. In return for the bravery he was asked what he wanted, he immediately requested for his daughter. The daughter and father were very close with each other. The emotions from the child was very moving and somehow there's an ache in my heart when I see the unfortunate circumstances they were having. She stayed in their cell for 2 days but was caught by the chief. They were separated and her father was placed in the cell being tied by a rope. An inmate set the prison on fire and they had to evacuate. The father was untied but he saw that someone needed his help and he saved the warden/chief. The doctor told him that he was lucky to be alive and the father begged him to save the chief. I guess that melted the cold heart of the chief towards him.

Things started to change in the prison. The relationship grow deeper and somehow they have proved that the father was not guilty of the charge against him. They started helping him and Ye-sung had to be in the box to see her father. The chief took care of his daughter. Everything went well but he was sentenced to death since he was brainwashed to admit the crime for the safety of his daughter. Everybody wondered why and there was nothing they can do but to accept what was decided. It is unfair that an innocent man who's mentally impaired had to be put to death. I felt sorry especially to the scene when they celebrated the birthday then as they parted ways in tears and denial.

The daughter who's all grown up was proving to everybody in court that her father was not guilty. They re-investigated the case in which she won and obtained the justice that her father deserved. Everyone received the peace that they were looking for. Finally the daughter visited her father who was warden in prison and she left. It was snowing and as she walk outside, she reminisced the time when she was with her father in the hot air balloon. The father and the young daughter bid goodbye and she was teary eyed. The movie ended as justice was served just like how sailor moon would say it and the main characters were copying her.

DEFINITELY A MUST WATCH MOVIE! :) MOVED ME TO TEARS! :)

Journey of Faith

Do not believe me unless I do the works of my Father. But if I do them, even though you do not believe me, believe the works, that you may know and understand that the Father is in me, and I in the Father.

Reflected from the verse taken from John 10:31-42

The first thing that came to my mind after hearing the gospel was little faith but more of doubt. We live in a world that questions our being, our race, our religion, our morals and our good deeds. We also experience being questioned when it comes to faith and how we practice our beliefs. Some people don’t understand even if we explain it to them. We are blessed to experience freedom and to be saved from the punishment of our sins. We are not here on earth for nothing because we have a purpose to fulfill and that we are destined for greatness.

Why is it difficult to believe even after seeing the works of God?

Why really is it hard? God already worked through us and still we continue to doubt His presence? Why? Hmmmmmm.. I guess we are looking for big things to happen like a major major miracle to take place in our life similar to the Jesus feeds the 5 thousand, healing leprosy, allowing the blind to see, letting the deaf to hear, the crippled to be able to walk or when He raised the dead. When we witness those kind of events in the world we live in today, I guess it just shows how little our faith is. Our faith is easily tested in what we see. We believe in the "to see is to believe principle and that hinder us from believing in God through His simple works. Through that doubt will always overpower the little faith that we have.

Another reason would be when we are controlled by our fears that held us captive to believe the reality which is the real truth that's already in front of us. We refuse to believe because we are following the standards of this world rather than of God's based on the teachings in the Bible. We choose to please others but in reality, we can never please anybody anyway and it's only God whom we can only please.

Doubt over weighs the little faith that we have. Although we have seen still we allow questions to disrupt our thinking. We are blinded and distracted by our thoughts, by social media, by false judgment and by the things we hear around us. We have heard the words of God yet we try harder to close our hearts from listening to Him. We harden our hearts and we still choose to do what we think is right (but to others it's already unjustly). We are highly influenced with the latest trends, the gadgets, the popular things and even the immoral doings. The world is changing and satan is taking advantage of our weaknesses and he keeps on tempting us for our visions and goals to be cloudy and it gives us more worries. He's giving us reasons to doubt even if we are already praying.

The only way to defeat doubt is through our strong faith and the belief that He will answer our prayers no matter how impossible they may be. We will be tested but we should place our complete trust and total surrender to God that He will take care of everything for us. We should be deeply rooted in Him knowing that apart from Him we are nothing. We should maintain a constant prayer life and relationship with Him because that's where we'll grow as a person and where we'll learn more from. We can be ready for anything because we know God is in us and believe that He has plans for us, a future full of hope. Let's live our life purposefully and meaningfully. Let's make God happy through the works of our hands by bringing back the glory that God alone deserves! Let’s conquer this victory with our faith by being faithful to the one who is faithful and who never failed us. This journey of faith is not going to be an easy task because obstacles of doubt will always be there to challenge us but in the end it will be worth it. We will win because God is in our side. 

AMEN! PRAISE GOD!

Princess diaries at Fujairah, UAE

A few days before the weekend, I was called to be the guitarist for the Princess diaries retreat. Praise God! I had enough time to prepare and rehearse the songs. I had my guitar fixed (bridge needs to be lowered since it's very high) so I used the Yamaha one which I swapped with Kuya Alex. It was very easy for me to play with less pain and more fun. I was able to play songs with minimal difficulty unlike with mine which was a struggle for me because my left wrist hurts upon pressing on to the strings for a good tune.

I was excited since it's a retreat for ladies. I came prepared and ready for the mission which was a bonus for me. I also had to increase my confidence, lessen the shyness and trusted God that I can do it without fail and if I may fail then it's ok as long as I am enjoying and loving what I do.

We sang truly home, great God, heart of worship, praiseworthy, grateful, whom shall I fear, heaven, have your way - most of the songs had a big impact in me and for the participants as well. The worship was powerful and the Spirit of God worked through each and everyone of us. It's amazing how the voices were music to the ears of God coming from His beloved princesses.

I had a great time since I myself was listening and reflecting to the talks being delivered. Although I struggled with being sleepy yet I managed and tried hard to stay awake. Being in a mission doesn't require you to be assigned in one task but being flexible to handle several assignments. I was a music min slash docu slash ice breaker slash participant and it feels good to fulfill the mission for God, for the team and for myself.

BLESSED. LOVED. FULFILLED. HAPPY.
God's beloved princesses

Tiring, painful, drowsy, struggling and long journey it may seem, God has fulfilled His purpose not only with me but with everybody. God is good and He works wonders in ways we don't see. We left the place by leaving a smile in everyone's face. May God continue to bless the desires of His beloved Princesses in Fujairah, UAE and all parts of the world.

Movie: Bride for Rent

Just finished watching Bride for Rent. The lesson learned from the movie is how love impacts a person to change in a great way and the importance of forgiveness. We are not perfect and we have a lot of flaws yet it takes real love to embrace those circumstances completely.

Love is a wonderful gift worth sharing and it matters more when you give instead of waiting to receive. Thank you for inspiring me to love patiently and to continue loving even if doesn't make sense or that it hurts. I am reminded by God to love and be loved for He has loved me first. He has assured me that I am God's beloved. I know in time the scars will heal and things will fall into their right places.

True love is worth the wait. Lord may your will be done. I know you have a great plan for me. Thank you Lord for a wonderful end to a stressful day. Finally I'm learning to understand what was clouding up my mind a few days back. Continue to reveal your knowledge and wisdom. As I let go of my worries I felt that my heart is burden free! Yay! Praise God! Peace of mind at last! Good night beloved!   #peace #hope #love #forgiveness #healing #blessed #wait #selfless #patient #tlw #ponder

(Posted via FB last January 2014)

God's musician someday

Frankly, I am ambitious, purposely driven, a day dreamer, mostly a trying hard gal who's aspiring to become God's musician someday.

My journey to loving and performing music for God started in YFC. I can still remember the time during a youth camp in Tapaz way back 2005 and as I woke up, I heard Kuya Lloyd singing the song praiseworthy as He plays the guitar. From that day on, I started loving and learning to play the guitar. I was so inspired by the former drug addict now renewed son of God who was worshipping the Lord early in the morning. That moment moved me and inspired me to do the same for God. I guess that it was one of the reasons I came to love playing "Praiseworthy and all other songs" for it is meant to bring back all the glory and praise to God alone (SOLI DEO GLORIA).

I got my own red guitar way back 2006. I struggled as I started to learn it while balancing my time for studies, church, service, family and simple joys. I was so blessed to have someone tutored me as I study the chords, strumming patterns and the song. I have learned several songs and at first it was a painful yet exciting beginning. No pain, no gain as they say it and I had to endure it. I had to go through ups and downs wherein I would sometimes lose my focus and interest in pursuing the music I wanted to give to God. Years passed and the same pattern keeps going - on and off even until now.

I started recording some covers and found myself starting to re-learn what I learned in the past. I felt like a drop out since I started this dream last 2006 and it's 2014 now, I'm still not graduating. Haha! I was practicing daily (trying). I tried new songs and new chords to play especially the ones that I tried to avoid - the complex chords. I was goal driven since I remember the reason why I started to play. I was going out of my comfort zone before. I went to different places in my province, bringing with me my guitar, my desire to proclaim God's greatness and trying my hardest to teach them the song as I play it myself. "Sariling sikap" or self supporting as they call it. Before it was a struggle to bring with me as I go on mission a guitarist so I managed to do it on my own then years passed I arrived in Dubai with a mission to fulfill.

Lately this year, I was called to become the music min for the Easter KFC activity last April since no one was free to do it. I couldn't say no but because I had the same passion in me who's half asleep, I said yes. Slowly the desire I had before was awakened. I find myself loving it again and I tried hard to practice for the activity. I was nervous and afraid since it's going to be my first time playing the music seriously by following the accurate strumming pattern in public and with the power chord attached to a power source. I felt not confident enough since I knew I might make a mistake in the middle of the song and lose focus. In the name of service and for God, I managed to play the song using the guitar while singing without mistake, able to remember the chords, able to serve as an emcee and deliver the talk to the Junior 2 kids all in one KFC activity. Superb grace and leading from the Holy Spirit. Thank you Lord.

We had a mission in Dibba last May and I was privileged to be there. During that week, I was practicing the songs since they needed a guitarist. I tried my hardest but the guitar which I was using was returned to the owner since he also needed it. Despite that I still learned the songs just in case. On that day, the guitarist didn't know the songs since he was from SOLD. Me, feeling ambitious tried to play it nervously. God's spirit works wonders and I was able to do it correctly (maybe because the guitar was Yamaha). I played "Have your way" and some songs which I knew. It was a nice feeling because I was singing, playing and praying simultaneously together with the group as one during the worship. God moves us mysteriously and for sure He has heard our cries and praises as the activity ended successfully.

May 16, 2014 as I shared and testified God's greatness through my struggle as I looked for a job in the Natcon at RAK, I was again affirmed by God to push my desire to play for Him. I was blessed by Ate Elma (Kim from AUH) in which she gave me her guitar to practice and do mission for God. She was with us during the mission in Dibba. She felt like I needed a guitar of my own to pursue the mission for God. I felt like winning that time and I was close to tears since I was affirmed by several people after my sharing and it was a great moment to cherish. From that day on, my journey to fulfill the dream/mission continued and is slowly blooming. I am a work in progress. I can be a trying hard when it comes to playing the guitar and especially in singing but I am doing it not for them but for God. I dunno where my confidence comes from but I didn't feel any shame when I recorded covers for God for I know out of millions, I can inspire one soul.

A month later, I was blessed by God to attend a music min workshop. For the first time, I felt honored to be a part of the music min. They had talks and workshops that made me realize the importance of the whole team to perform a good music. Each instrument/function is nothing without the presence of others. I realize that pride is the enemy and we have to battle it with humility that as we improve we should always remain on the ground and bring back the glory that God solely deserves. I am somewhat guilty (at times) but I am affirmed to keep going and to change it. I am thankful for the opportunity and the inspiration that I brought with me will help me in pursuing the dream. Thank you Lord for the assurance and the confidence despite my flaws and weakness. I went home happy and blessed with the eagerness to strive more as I become an alter Christ wherever I will be.

As the days, weeks and months pass, God is still affirming me to keep journeying even if it's difficult, sometimes frustrating, hurting and expectations are rising. I am a few big steps away from my dream and I know I can finally achieve it with God's grace.



"I will never stop when I am tired but only when I am done."