YOU ARE

Laugh with me and we’ll make the worries of the day disappear

Run with me and we’ll chase whatever we can catch

Share with me YOU… for it’s you I choose to be with

Sing with me and share with me your voice… The angels will take note

Be with me and my heart will absorb you

Embrace with me… just hold in your hands mine



Dance with me and sway to my cadence

Walk with me… just be by my side

Trust with me and together we will flourish

Love with me and the mountains we will move

Never stop all of these, for it’s this fear

That will forever be in my soul



Note: This is just a part of the book I am writing.

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SWEET SURRENDER (Broken to be beautiful)

I grew up in a Christian family where Bible is our main source of daily topics during our meal time. Growing up in the ministry is not easy. People will look unto you and even check every action you are going to do.  My parents are Christian and so we were born as is. I thought that I was already saved during that time until the Lord spoke to me in His still small voice way back when I was in Grade 6, June 5, 1994 at exactly 7pm, it was raining then, I was lying on my bed waiting for our dinner while listening to 702 DZAS’ program PAPURI. I love music and I enjoyed listening to PAPURI music. Then this announcer named Jungee Marcelo played a song called “TSUPER NG BUHAY”. The melody is satiric and like novelty sound, then while listening, there was this line in the song…”Sya ang tsuper ng buhay, dito ka na sumakay, gasolina’y panghabambuhay…then I was singing the song when tears rolled down my eyes, yes, I cried upon listening to that song. I don’t know why but at that moment, there was a big emptiness in my heart and that I am longing for more of Jesus. Then before ending the radio program, the disc jockey will pray and minister to the listener, so, when Sir Jungee prayed for acceptance, I followed him.

The next day, I went to school. I studied in a Catholic school where every Monday will have a rosary prayer, that day I was assigned to pray the rosary. Being a Christian, I felt awkward. I even told my principal that praying a rosary like a repeat scripted prayer is not biblical, well; definitely, I was sent to a guidance office and asked my parents to come. But I was firm to my decision that I won’t pray the rosary anymore. But since I was running for Valedictorian that time, they pardoned me to my actions and exempted me in praying.

Years passed, I grew up in ministry where I became a leader, and then some big things have twisted my faith. I became bold in Christ and even went to several campuses to minister.

I was in  college when I radically got involved in a big Christian  Youth Ministry, the Jesus Revolution, I boldly declaring God’s Lordship and minister to many young generations. Then right after my graduation in college, God made me to decide the crucial decision to make.

While working, I met someone, felt in loved with this man of God. He was a Christian; so definitely, I didn’t fail the heart of God. But we started to be unhappy and struggling every day, until I asked God about it. We broke up. How heartbreak can lead to overeating. It's the nature of hearts to break. It's in their job description. When a heart is doing what it's supposed to be doing, it holds nothing back. And sometimes it gets broken.

Yes, pain is such a big word but after that painful heartbreak, another trial came. August 2012, I was diagnosed of having abnormal blood count plus a respiratory problem which causes me to always in the hospital.

Then, I asked God, why me Lord, I’ve been serving You and I even obey You? But God reminded me His words and promises. I cried in prayer and laying it all to Him and entrust everything. The moment I have decided to turn back to my first love, I made Him as my captain, as my Savior and Lord of my life. January 2014 when I received the news from my doctor that my blood count is now normal. When they rechecked it thrice, it was all cleared and normal.

But prior to that, I always have a nocturnal job doing some music stuff at night especially during gig, then I realized I need to let go that passion in music and started to live a healthy lifestyle. Since then, I became healthier than before. But still the heart for music is always there. But I need to obey what my master and Lord Jesus wants me to do.

February 2014, God opened the door for me in music. Not a nocturnal lifestyle of a musician but He gave me the chance to make my own music and start a career in songwriting. Though I’m not yet famous, I believe that God is doing something great in my life, as long as I submit to Him.

For me, LORDSHIP means to fully obeying the master of our lives. If we confess Jesus is Lord, therefore we should also know how to submit to Him no matter what happen, because He knows our heart, He will have the best plans for us once we call Him as our Lord and Savior. His plans are greater than ours.

God wants us to trust His heart; God wants us to depend on Him as our strength and refuge alone and not into our own. During our painful and hard times, when we are so empty that is when we see God’s fullness because God is the only one who can restore us. “God uses our brokenness for His masterpiece.”

@VictoryOrtigas #radicalsince1984 #myVictoryStory #Lordship #JESUSperiod

FRIENDSHIP!

           

          One thing so easy to do today is to throw people away like they are garbage. People come in and out of our lives daily but the ones that leave a fingerprint on your heart are one we should never dismiss. We really should never dismiss anyone. It is so easy to fall out of love with family and friends over things that may not seem simple at the time but really are. Could you imagine if God got rid of us every time we sinned? I have learned that people come into your life for different reasons and different seasons. In our journey on the road of life we should always make note of every friend we are blessed to have in our lives for whatever time period we have them to enjoy. I truly am grateful for all of you my friends.

Throwback Memories!

                    When I was in college, my Philosophy teacher challenged my faith since he used to be an Atheist. I remember, he always asked me mocking questions that talks about my faith. Until one day, he asked me to write a short thesis or term paper about EXISTENTIALISM, ATHEISM and my Bible-based-FAITH. From then on, I started to have an in-depth study about Atheism and Apologetic. I used to go to University of the Philippines Atheist Circle or UPAC to observe them. Until my final day ends, I need to submit my paper defending my faith over Atheism and Existentialism. 

                    Defending one's faith is not easy but yet simple if you have God. That day was the boldest day of sharing the gospel for me. Not hesitating if I fail my subject. But God knows our heats. After the defense, my professor asked me to share the gospel for him in our class. (Those were my best memories in college). That is why, Philosophy is my favorite subject.

                    On my quest to know Atheism, I randomly read this mind blowing story, and I want to share it now.

======================================================================

First story:

                An Atheist Professor of Philosophy was speaking to his Class on the Problem Science has with GOD , the ALMIGHTY. He asked one of his New Students to stand and . . .

Professor :Do you Believe in GOD ?

Student : Absolutely, sir.

Professor : Is GOD Good ?

Student : Sure.

Professor : Is GOD ALL - POWERFUL ?

Student : Yes.

Professor : My Brother died of Cancer even though he prayed to GOD to heal

him. Most of us would attempt to help others who are ill. But GOD didn't.

How is this GOD good then? Hmm?

(Student was silent )

Professor : You can't answer, can you ? Let's start again, Young fella. Is GOD Good?

Student : Yes.

Professor : Is Satan good ?

Student : No.

Professor : Where does Satan come from ?

Student : From . . . GOD . . .

Professor : That's right. Tell me son, is there evil in this world?

Student : Yes.

Professor : Evil is everywhere, isn't it ? And GOD did make everything. 

Correct?

Student : Yes.

Professor : So who created evil ?

(Student did not answer)

Professor : Is there Sickness? Immorality? Hatred? Ugliness? All these

terrible things exist in the world, don't they?

Student : Yes, sir.

Professor : So, who created them ?

(Student had no answer)

Professor : Science says you have 5 senses you use to identify and observe the world around you. Tell me, son . . . Have you ever seen GOD?

Student : No, sir.

Professor : Tell us if you have ever heard your GOD?

Student : No , sir.

Professor : Have you ever felt your GOD, tasted your GOD , smelt your GOD? Have you ever had any sensory perception of GOD for that matter?

Student : No, sir. I'm afraid I haven't.

Professor : Yet you still believe in HIM?

Student : Yes.

Professor : According to empirical, testable, demonstrable protocol, science says your GOD doesn't exist. What do you say to that, son?

Student : Nothing. I only have my faith.

Professor : Yes, faith. And that is the problem science has.

Student asks and professor answers

Student : Professor, is there such a thing as heat?

Professor : Yes.

Student : And is there such a thing as cold?

Professor : Yes.

Student : No, sir. There isn't, 

(The Lecture Theater became very quiet with this turn of events )

Student : Sir, you can have lots of heat, even more heat, super heat, mega Heat, white Heat, a little heat or no heat. But we don't have anything called cold. We can hit 458 degrees below zero which is no heat, but we can't go any further after that. There is no such thing as cold. Cold is only a word we use to describe the absence of heat. We cannot measure cold. Heat is energy. Cold is not the opposite of heat, sir, just the absence of it.

(There was pin-drop silence in the Lecture Theater )

Student : What about darkness, Professor? Is there such a thing as darkness?

Professor : Yes. What is night if there isn't darkness?

Student : You're wrong again, sir. Darkness is the absence of something.

You can have low light, normal light, bright light, flashing light . . but if

you have no light constantly, you have nothing and its called darkness,

isn't it? In reality, darkness isn't. If it is, you would be able

to make darkness darker, wouldn't you?

Professor : So what is the point you are making, Young Man ?

Student : Sir, my point is your Philosophical premise is flawed.

Professor : Flawed ? Can you explain how?

Student : Sir, you are working on the premise of duality. You argue there is life and then there is death, a Good GOD and a Bad GOD. You are viewing the concept of GOD as something finite, something we can measure. Sir, science can't even explain a thought. It uses electricity and magnetism, but has never seen, much less fully understood either one. To view death as the opposite of life is to be ignorant of the fact that death cannot exist as a substantive thing. Death is not the opposite of life: just the absence of it. Now tell me, Professor, do you teach your students that they evolved from a monkey?

Professor : If you are referring to the natural evolutionary process, yes, of course, I do.

Student : Have you ever observed evolution with your own eyes, sir?

(The Professor shook his head with a smile, beginning to realize where the argument was going)

Student : Since no one has ever observed the process of evolution at work and cannot even prove that this process is an on-going endeavor, are you not teaching your opinion, sir? Are you not a scientist but a preacher?

(The class was in uproar )

Student : Is there anyone in the class who has ever seen the professor's brain?

(The class broke out into laughter)

Student : Is there anyone here who has ever heard the Professor's brain, felt it, touched or smelt it? . . .No one appears to have done so. So, according to the established rules of empirical, stable, demonstrable protocol, Science says that you have no brain, sir. With all due respect, sir, how do we then trust your lectures,sir?

(The room was silent. The Professor stared at the student, his face unfathomable)

Professor : I guess you'll have to take them on faith, son.

Student : That is it sir . . . exactly ! The link between MAN & GOD is

FAITH. That is all that keeps things alive and moving. 

=====================================================================

Here's another story:

There was a professor of philosophy there who was a deeply committed atheist. His primary goal for one required class was to spend the entire semester attempting to prove that God couldn't exist.

His students were always afraid to argue with him because of his impeccable logic. For twenty years, he had taught this class and no one had ever had the courage to go against him.

Sure, some had argued in class at times, but no one had ever really gone against him because of his reputation. At the end of every semester on the last day, he would say to his class of 300 students, "If there is anyone here who still believes in Jesus, stand up!"

In twenty years, no one had ever stood up. They knew what he was going to do next. He would say, "Because anyone who believes in God is a fool.

If God existed, he could stop this piece of chalk from hitting the ground and breaking. Such a simple task to prove that He is God, and yet He can't do it."

And every year, he would drop the chalk onto the tile floor of the classroom and it would shatter into a hundred pieces. All of the students would do nothing but stop and stare. Most of the students thought that God couldn't exist. Certainly, a number of Christians had slipped through, but for 20 years, they had been too afraid to stand up.

Well, a few years ago there was a freshman who happened to enroll. He was a Christian, and had heard the stories about his professor. He was required to take the class for his major, and he was afraid. But for three months that semester, he prayed every morning that he would have the courage to stand up no matter what the professor said, or what the class thought.

Nothing they said could ever shatter his faith...he hoped. Finally, the day came. The professor said, "If there is anyone here who still believes in God, stand up!" The professor and the class of 300 people looked at him, shocked, as he stood up at the back of the room.

The professor shouted, "You FOOL!!! If God existed, he would keep this piece of chalk from breaking when it hit the ground!"

He proceeded to drop the chalk, but as he did, it slipped out of his fingers, off his shirt cuff, onto the pleat of his pants, down his leg, and off his shoe. As it hit the ground, it simply rolled away unbroken. The professor's jaw dropped as he stared at the chalk. He looked up at the young man, and then ran out of the lecture hall.

The young man who had stood, proceeded to walk to the front of the room and shared his faith in Jesus for the next half hour. 300 students stayed and listened as he told of God's love for them and of His power through Jesus.

======================================================================

                        After this, I realized how important to really know who God is. GOD IS NOT DEAD. He is ALIVE. Well, so thankful to my professor who challenge me and because of that I know who my GOD is. To my professor...thank you sir for letting me share the gospel to you. So thankful that you opened your heart and hear the Word of our Lord. I am happy seeing you involved in campus ministry and even in music ministry. From your atheistic philosophy to bible-based faith principles.

                         Upon remembering our philosophy class story, we're both laughing. Like yesterday, he told me..."Ivy, mukhang gusto ko ulit marining kung panu mo ako pinahiya at ung atheist belief ko nun...ulitin kaya natin? Iba ka talaga, imagine ako professor mo pero ikaw nagmentor sa akin para maggrow kay Lord. Salamat sa walang sawang text about God at sa prayers mo." 

                      Haha, hearing this means happiness but of course, the best credit is due for the Lord Himself. To Him is all the glory!

                       To date, we're both exited to watch the movie that talks about God...GOD's NOT DEAD movie...soon.

#throwbackArticle #PhilosophyClass #faith #friendship #GNDmovie

LOVE IS

Once upon a time there was an island where all 
the feelings lived; happiness, sadness, knowledge, 
and all the others, including love. One day it was
announced to all of the feelings that the island was
going to sink to the bottom of the ocean. So all the
feelings prepared their boats to leave. Love was the
only one that stayed. She wanted to preserve the 
island paradise until the last possible moment. 
When the island was almost totally under water, 
love decided it was time to leave. She began 
looking for someone to ask for help. Just then
Richness was passing by in a grand boat. 

Love asked, "Richness, Can I come with you on
your boat?"
Richness answered, " I'm sorry, but there is a lot of
silver and gold on my boat and there would be no
room for you anywhere."

Then Love decided to ask Vanity for help who was
passing in a beautiful vessel.
Love cried out , "Vanity, help me please."
"I can't help you", Vanity said, "You are all wet and
will damage my beautiful boat."

Next, Love saw Sadness passing by. Love
said, "Sadness, please let me go with you."
Sadness answered, "Love, I'm sorry, but, I just
need to be alone now."

Then, Love saw Happiness. Love cried out, "
Happiness, please take me with you." But 
Happiness was so overjoyed that he didn't hear
Love calling to him. Love began to cry.

Then, she heard a voice say, "Come Love, I will
take you with me." It was an elder. Love felt so 
blessed and overjoyed that she forgot to ask the 
elder his name. When they arrived on land the 
elder went on his way. Love realized how much 
she owed the elder. Love then found Knowledge 
and asked, "Who was it that helped me?"
"It was Time", Knowledge answered.
"But why did Time help me when no one else
would?" Love asked. Knowledge smiled and with
deep wisdom and sincerity, answered, "Because 
only Time is capable of understanding how great 
Love is." 

WASTED

I'm done being nice and minding other people's feelings!

This time I need to put myself first and start caring about what I really want. I gave up something important more than twice! And sacrificed a lot because I wanted to protect something really precious.

This time it ain't gonna happen again.

Be happy. I hope it lasts. I shouldn't have been too nice, it doesn't mean that I made you happy the last time I was happy too.

You made a choice and so I'm making one too, don't expect that everything would still be the same, this would be the end of everything between you, me and everything else for the first time I think I had wasted my time, what a waste.

Optimism

We’ve all had our share of disappointments in life. We have all been discouraged and have thought of giving up. That reflection that used to stare at you from the mirror, straight in the eye; standing so tall and proud now hangs his head low.



In pain from the betrayal of people you used to trust and vowed to serve with all your life and might. In anger from not being able to take things into your own hands. In frustration from things not going as you planned them. In shame for your failure to achieve what you came to do.



Discouragement is not an easy thing to deal with. With discouragement comes depression; something that I have come to be fully acquainted with. But the former things; my past hurts and pains has taught me a lot in dealing with discouragement and also with my depression.

Cliche as it may sound, thinking positive still does the trick. Optimism is the key.



Having a clear mind on what to do next can actually help you get through any barrier that disappointment, discouragement and depression burdens you with; that is actually better than letting all the negative things just bury you six feet underground.



But above all, nothing and no one can get us out of all the shitty things that we can get ourselves into except the powerful arms of the one who loves us so much; the one who made us to be more that what we think we can be; the one who begs to disagree when all the world sees you as someone that you’re not; the one who wonderfully and fearfully made you for his purpose…it is our God who got me through…and I believe that He will continue to in the days to come.



So when you feel discouraged, hold on. He who began a good work in you will continue to complete it in you and through you. Do not give up on doing good, especially when you feel like not doing good, for you will receive a great harvest at the right time if you do not give up.

 Press on. You are blessed.

LIVE LIFE. LOVE LIFE!

"When you accept that hurting and healing are part of living, you can give up the fantasy that being thin controls your happiness."

Let's call his name as Superman, and I was crazy in love with him. Every breath he took, every word he uttered seemed as if it was designed to crack my heart open. I wanted to spend my life with him, grow old with him, have more children than Angelina Jolie with him. The only teensy problem was that he didn't feel the same way about me.

I was certain I could persuade him to love me, that he wasn't seeing clearly, that it was my job to show him that we were meant for each other. I was also certain that when I finally lost the 10 pounds I'd been losing and gaining for a hundred years, he'd be smitten.

And so I pulled out all the stops. I developed a sudden fascination for arts (his field), I baked cakes, I dyed my hair medium blonde (his preferred color). And most of all, I starved myself. I ate nothing but Grape-Nuts without milk for six weeks (don't ask). I chipped a few teeth, leached most of the calcium out of my bones, and probably depleted my muscle mass by half, but I did finally lose those 10 pounds. A few months into Project Superman, he fell in love with a size 16 brunette and moved away.

Most of the people are convinced that loves and losses can be titrated in pounds. That if only they were thin or thinner, everyone who didn't love them would love them. Life would be magical, easy, illuminated. In other words, they believe what many of us believe: If we control what we put in our mouths (and the size of our bodies), then we can control everything else. So we spend our lives focused on losing weight, believing that thinness will provide invincible protection from rejection, grief, and sorrow.

But as you probably have already guessed (or experienced firsthand), when you are as thin as you can ever imagine, the people who didn't love you before will still not love you, and the people who did love you before will love you still. People will come, go, leave, and die, no matter how much you weigh.

Talk about busting childhood myths. As children, we all believed that it was in our power to make our parents happy. If our mother was depressed, if our father was absent, if our parents fought incessantly, we were convinced that it was in our power to make things better. It wasn't. But how we self-medicated those hurts with food was, and still is.

"Well, I may not be in a relationship now, but when I get thin, I will find the perfect partner," you give yourself the illusion that you're in control. You may not be happy now, you tell yourself, but someday soon you will make a change and Prince Charming will suddenly show up at your door. You fool yourself into thinking that you have total control over when your unhappiness will end and perfect happiness will begin. And it has something to do with your weight.

How heartbreak can lead to overeating. It's the nature of hearts to break. It's in their job description. When a heart is doing what it's supposed to be doing, it holds nothing back. And sometimes it gets broken.

The hard part of emotional and compulsive eating is that in trying to avoid big heartbreaks, we break our own hearts every day. We eat more than our bodies want, we binge on foods that make us sick, we carry weight that makes it hard to move around. We tell ourselves mean stories about our thighs, our arms, our bellies. The cost of having the "when I am thin, everything will be fine" fantasy is that we end up trading the heartbreak of being alive for the heartbreak we cause ourselves.

And it's all to avoid something that can't be avoided. While we are postponing our joy for a future time when everything will be perfect, life is going on with or without our consent and we are missing it. People come and go, pain comes and goes. But so does joy. And if our hearts are closed because we don't want to suffer, they won't be open enough to recognize the joy as it flies by.

Hearts are made to be resilient. Think about it: Is there one thing that's happened to you that you haven't survived? Here you are, right now, reading this article despite all the heartache you've had in your life. Something in you is still awake, alive, eager to learn, ready to be moved.

And once you know that your heart is resilient, once you accept that part of being here on earth is, as a friend of mine says, living among the brokenhearted, then you can take in the huge streaks of delight, joy, and happiness as well. Once you understand that everything will end, you can finally let your life, the one you already have, not the one you imagine you'll someday lose.

JUST

I find that one thing I dislike the most is being left out.  Come to think of it, I'm not sure if I'm okay being upset about being left out of things.  I mean, technically when I'm invited places I often don't attend...so I get invited fewer places.  That makes sense.  It's logical.  However, I think a lot of the reason I don't attend is because I don't trust people and I feel odd.  I have this innate feeling that there's something wrong in me, or something wrong-er in me than others...like I have a target that people are waiting to pounce.  I doubt it's true, but I can't seem to shake it.  How do you shake that feeling?  Do you just hang out with more people and learn to fake it?  Do you eventually learn to be with people without that feeling at all?  Maybe it takes me getting to know individuals on a one-on-one basis first before I can trust.  I wish I knew.  It sure would save me a lot of trouble!

I mean, what comes first, the chicken or the egg?  Do I get left out because I cause myself to get left out?  Or do I get left out because they left me out first and then I responded by declining further offers to not be left out?  Does anyone out there understand what I'm saying?!  If so, can you please explain it all to me too!

I think I'm just tired of feeling like I'm the least on everyone's list.  I know I'm probably exaggerating, but whether or not its true, I still feel this way.  I assume someone would tell me that I'm feeling this way because of the abandonment I felt as a child and how growing up poor and being made fun of caused me to feel like people made fun of me all the time no matter what...blah, blah, blah...I suppose it's partially true.

One day I will be healed.  One day I'll learn to trust.  Or maybe it doesn't matter as long as I trust who matters...?  Or, maybe I don't even know how to trust them?

It's so so hard to cope up especially if you were a victim of bullying since childhood.

I was about to break down the other day...so I got out a piece of paper and wrote.

I just wrote and wrote and wrote.

I wrote down my fears, my irrational thoughts, my arguments within myself, and I wrote.

A Taste of God's Faithfulness

“Great is the LORD and most worthy ofpraise; his greatness no one can fathom.” Psalm 145:3

                Who can imagine travelling with a limited budget and all girls getaway?

                 We departed Cubao, Quezon City, Friday,May 17, 2013 at exactly 10:30am. Road an ALPS bus and headed to Lipa, Batangas.I must admit, we really don’t know each other personally, (came from all walks of life) but our hearts became one and united because of one cause-to have fellowship in Christ. From Lipa, we transferred a bus heading Nasugbu, still in Batangas. Then, blessings started to pour out.


            On our way to Nasugbu, a young boy named Jude came to our lives. He is just 12 years old but very friendly and have a golden heart. We really don’t know theplace we are going to but God sent this man to help us. At first, I personally doubted this young boy, a hesitant heart knowing the situations in thePhilippines but then, God let me see His goodness through this young boy. He helped us get a good bus though we were a chance passengers, but there were good samaritans offering us good seats and enjoyed our trip to their towns. We traveled almost 3hours going to an island, we didn’t have our lunch yet and tired from work before that trip, if only us, we might ended up sleeping but this boy who’s really chatty talked a lot, we laughed and listened to him without noticing that finally we’re on the place already.


            This instant tour guide became our companion during our trip. His goodness really ablessings to us. He cooked our food, he gathered stones, dried leaves to makefire, he even guided us in swimming, he shared stories even made us laugh. He even brought us pillows and mat to sleep. Truly, God is working through him. Even though, his adopted father got mad because he didn’t personally ask permission to stay with us, this young boy did a lot of good things to us. What I like about him is his open heart about Jesus. I believe God has a plan for his life and it’s not an accident that we’ve met him.

            On our day 2 of stay in that island, as early as around 8am, God allowed us tomeet a pastor from Wawa Community Christian Church together with his churchmates. Truly, God blessed us. Ptr. Rodel Alveyra made our day 2 stay such a memorable one. They have church activity in the island but he didn’t leaveus, he even toured us in another beach and let experienced the goodness of God. He even talked to us and ministered to us by sharing his faith and testimony that made us realized many things. I personally felt how blessed I am to have Jesus Christ in my life. Until he treated us with good, simple and delicious-fresh lunch. It was my first time to eat “ADOBONG OCTOPUS WITH GATA”, at first, I was hesistant, but when I tasted it, superb, I even forgot my diet and had my 2 rounds of plate eating in full.


            Another blessing came to us when we met our tricycle driver and we called him “tatay”. He is a christian and his stories blessed us. He drove us safely from Wawa to Brgy. Calayo.


                The name itself said so, Calayo. Yes, travelled almost an hour before going to another place but instead of us whining, we appreciate the greatness of God thru His nature.

            Finally,our trip has come to an end but not in spirit. We headed back to Manila but what we experienced there will always be our special memories.

          “Job 9:10 He performs wonders that cannot be fathomed, miracles thatcannot be counted.”

                 I’m running out of words so let me havethis moment to share my composed song when we’re on our way back to Manila.

Mighty
Lyrics and Music by: Princess Ivy Fernandez (Faith)

Verse 1:
I am at this age and time
When I’m figuring out
How to spend the rest of my life

Verse 2:
I think of the life that You led
As I learn about everything You did
And all that You said

Pre-Chorus:
And sometimes when I feel like I’mfalling apart
I get on my knees, close my eyes, andopen my heart
To all that You are

Chorus:
Because I can fly across the world
Travel on for so long and so far
Take the sky to touch the stars
Oh I can fly across the world
Stray away from the orient pearl
But no matter where I go
You will always be the mightiest Saviorthat I (they/we) will ever know

Refrain:
So I’ll sing, I’ll sing of Your love
In the hopes that those lost as me
Will follow the sound
And I know I can never find a betterway
To wake these young souls who areslowly going astray
And find brighter days
 
Repeat Chorus

Who's fighting the battles?

I was crying as I read 1 Chronicles 20:1-30.  I always read this passage each time I face a battle which is out of my control. Just like King Jehoshaphat who was alarmed when three kingdoms assembled to wage war against him, I prayed the same prayer: “Power & might are in your hand God, & no one can withstand you. You will hear us & save us. We have no power to face the enemy that is attacking us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you.” 

And I claimed God’s promise: “Do not be afraid or discouraged because of your enemy. For the battle is not yours, but God’s. You will not have to fight this battle. Take up your position. Stand firm & see the deliverance the Lord will give you. Do not be afraid. Do not be discouraged. Go out to face them tomorrow, & the Lord will be with you.” Then I fell down & worship before the Lord, declaring “Give thanks to the Lord, for His love endures forever.” 

If you’re familiar with the story, the same ending happened to me. As I began to sing & praise, the Lord smote all our enemies by making them fight one another. Our family’s toughest problem-ever got solved!

In my heart, I believe that the Lord would restore the things that were lost & destroyed.  I’m confident that JESUS will continue to fight all the battles for us. "He who did not spare His own Son, but gave Him up for us all, how He will not also, along with Him, graciously give us all things?" – Romans 8:32

It's Time!

It's 1am in the morning today, and I just finished watching High School Musical 3 while arranging 5 new songs for my upcoming projects, and a line from that movie touched me the most, it is when the teacher, Ms Darbus told Troy "better to consider the opportunities now and in 10 years life may limit your choices"

Playing that scene over and over again, I began to feel nostalgic about what I have been doing for the past 31 and half years. Then suddenly it all came back to me, it flashback all the success, failures, disappointments, events, opportunities, etc... that I had experienced for the past years.

Questions, memories, things about what will my future look like and other stuff began to linger in my mind, then tears followed... There's a sudden mixture of different emotions that I felt, but then it all came to one point, and that is I'm just really thankful on how God planned my destiny. Yes there are regrets, lots of them, but when I began to realize that all the things that happened were a blessing. It helped me appreciate the things, events, and people more than I appreciate them yesterday, and it helped me become a better person that I am today, a person that looks forward for a much better person in accordance to the will and the destiny that God had already planned out for me.

I challenge you to make a step forward every single day. There's always a new day and a new start, grab those opportunities laid before your eyes, be more than an adventurer rather than an observer, be ready to take more chances rather than sit and do nothing, move forward rather than go backwards and be left behind.

Let us all say enough of those things, situations, and people who always says that you can't and start to really believe that you can, that you can do the things you wanted to do only in Christ.

As for me and for the years to come, I will always let go and Let God.

Allow me to add a few lines to the original line of Ms Darbus as I end this blog...

"It is better to consider the opportunities now than to regret it when years, situations, and life may limit it. Trust God and trust the desire that He puts in your heart"

Now is the right time!

“So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” Isaiah 41:10

What's BEST TV NETWORK?

The issue about what's the best tv network in town is still debatable. Of course, nobody wants to be the least, that's why, they are battling to win the title every year. Bloggers like me has its own favorite but let me site my point here.

What makes the best tv network? How do we measure its goodness and even its worst matters? As a viewer, we want to want to watch programs whose main goal is to entertain us and at the same time is to promote good values that will help us understand our culture as being displayed by mass media.

Three years ago, the Philippine tv sets a variety of shows that made people think and set a standard of being the best. Network war is vivid and strong among its talents and its shows. Like for instance, GMA-7. GMA-7 reinvented their talents and come up with shows that is as they say "world class". However, ABSCBN-2 didn't ignore that move. They also reinvented their shows and start producing a state of the art shows not only in local but in abroad. ABC-5 or what we call TV-5 now made a massive changes when they introduced new concepts of shows and started to venture to what the other networks are doing.

Nowadays, we have three giant tv networks and the quest is not easy. Viewers are very keen observing their programs and even celebrities. Network war becomes intense everytime they need to appear in awards night, or come up with new shows and etc.

Personally, I am not a huge fan of watching tv. I'd rather listen to music and read books all day but it caught my attention to answer the query. For me, whoever entertains me and the show promotes good values and promotes our culture as Filipinos, then, they have my heart. But this idea has changed when I started to be involved in music industry. My eyes were opened and start watching their shows not just because they are good but personally I believed that they play as a watchdog of our society. That's why, I chose them as my best tv network. Well, it shows on their records. Yearly, they are awarded as Best TV Channel in KBP, CMMA, PMPC and more.

Filipinos deserve to have this kind of network that truly caters the true service for Filipinos, ABSCBN channel 2.

CYBERCRIME LAW

As a blogger , I am often asked for my stand onRepublic Act No. 10175 or the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012 . My stand on the law stays the same as eight months ago when it was still a bill. Cybercrimes are real. Cybercrimes happen everyday. Cybercrimes are offenses committed against a person, or a people, a government--- threatening national security, for example or a corporation--- disrupting financial institutions. Cybercrimes have criminal motivations. Cybercrimes are meant to harm the reputation of a victim. Cybercrimes can cause physical or mental harm to a victim, whether directly, or indirectly using the amazing technology we have around us like The Internet, chat rooms, emails, message boards, groups, social networking, and even through our mobile phones. There is zero doubt that there is a clear and present need for a cybercrime law. There is no doubt that women’s rights need to be protected. There is no doubt that children need to be protected. There is no doubt that when someone is attacked online, he or she needs to be protected. There is no doubt that fraud, spam, need to be stopped. There is no doubt that government and law enforcement need to be armed to deal with these threats. The need of for a cybercrime law, and the need to protect people’s rights was never in doubt. I, myself was a victim of HACKING and IDENTITY THEFT. I consider it as a crime, digital crime. BUT... The Cybercrime Law as framed in Republic Act 101751 is fundamentally flawed. It centers to the OPPRESSION OF FREEDOM OF SPEECH. Republic Act No. 10175 or the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012 aims to be the bastion of this freedom. Let me quote my friend "Genie Soriano" on her post regarding the issue. "Utilizing the benefits of cyberspace means one word: RESPONSIBILITY. Everyone should be responsible for what they do to this privilege but since there are some of us who find it difficult to discipline themselves and be responsible, we've got to waste time and money just to create this Cyber crime Law. I think RA 10175 has its flaws when it comes to qualifying what should be and should not be posted on the web. Words/statements from other people can be understood differently by various groups hence making a statement libelous to one person and not to another. Libel is a SUBJECTIVE MATTER. There's a very thin line between constructive criticism and malicious slander. The law should provide an objective parameter from which we can categorize what we see or read from cyberspace. I think our law makers need to think what will benefit not only their political careers but to consider what is the best for the general public." I strongly believed and agree to her that WE, users have its own RESPONSIBILITY. Social responsibility to whatever we post omline. Wisdom is needed to avoid conflicts. The Cybercrime Law is a guide on how to behave “properly” when using computers (as defined by the law) whether online or offline. It dictates that we only use computers in a positive way. However, there are certain provisions which needs clarification and re-thinking. Like the provision on how to collect real-time traffic and the inclusion of Libel. I vehemently oppose the inclusion of libel as its oppressive characteristic easily paves way for the state and its fellow power-abusive actors to impose exorbitant measures against its citizens." “It is a dismay to realize that this so-called son of Philippine democracy icons who once gained popularity by accident leads the country to cyber-imperialism." (another blogger said) "The government can put us in prison for Facebook ‘likes’ or ‘shares’ and they now have the power to listen in on our Skype conversations and take down our blogs and websites for mere suspicion.” In conclusion, the law has loopholes. So, we better THINK BEFORE WE CLICK. But GUARD OUR FREEDOM.

Safety Lies

You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of birth pains. - Matt 24:6-8 (NIV) The “birth pains” have now become quite frequent, and we know that with more birth pains at shorter intervals, the inevitable isn’t far off. It is not meant to threaten anyone but to encourage everyone that while there still is time…make that decision and move to safe ground. “Safety is not in the absence of danger but being in the presence of the Almighty God.” For me, there’s no other safer place to be.

AN ENCOUNTER WITH GOD

June 19, 2012, at exactly 3am, God woke me up and leads me to an intimate prayer with Him. Rarely do I cry out for something not related to myself. But tonight, for some crazy reason I cannot explain, that's all different. Tonight I'm crying out for those I love, my friends, because many of them are hurting right now, in very different, but very specific situations. Tonight I am actually literally crying for them. I sense the brokenness, I sense the hurt, and in some ways I feel their pain, in other ways. I do not feel their pain, but my heart breaks for them, and cries out tonight for them. Don't get me wrong, the situations are very different, in very different ways, but I hurt and I cry out for them regardless. Many are praying that God will reveal his will to them, and that's hard to understand and hard to see and hard to know, and I know this all too well because I am right there with them. My heart cries that God will intentionally and assuredly show them his will. Many of my friends are struggling with where to go in life, whether it means a certain job or certain vacation, or what relationship to pursue, and I pray that God will reveal those decisions and those paths to them and He will make it clear to them to know which way to go. So God, I can only do what I know to do, just come to you, bring my friends to you, lift them up to you, and TRUST that you have their life already planned out and full known and have for a long long time. Please make your will revealed to them, and please restore these broken relationships all around me, and heal broken hearts from death of loved ones, as you're the only one that can heal the brokeness inside us. Please help all of us know what plan you have for us and pursue it with everything within us. Because of this reason, I realized how special I am to God because He choose me to be part of His family as His princess. God leads me to His words full of compassion and love; “how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge” (Ephesians 3:18-19a NIV) – then you’re on your way to understanding the extraordinary value of every human life, how each individual is a masterpiece created by God. WE are a masterpiece created by God. The point is, God thought you up (Jeremiah 1:5), and now he lovingly thinks of us. We are of immeasurable worth to God, and our value is not determined by our appearance or performance, or how much time or money we can contribute, or how well we sing or teach – or how long we live. The value of any container is determined by its contents, and WE are a one and only, custom-made container of Uncommon Stuff – as a believer, you contain the very life of God. Rejoice in this truth, and be set free. What does this mean? God’s love transforms – When you understand your value to God, you will be less likely to sin. His love will compel you to walk in the light. In conclusion, I am so thankful God loves me so much that He is thinking of me always. Well, after my encounter to God, I am overwhelmed and challenge to do this: If you think good things about someone, tell them. Go out of your way to fill their lives with joy while there's still time. Those expressions of appreciation, those words of forgiveness, that special gift you've had in mind, give it while you can. And lastly, Don't keep your love in a box! well, thanks for reading!

HAPPINESS

What is happiness exactly? Is it something as complex as electrical impulses from the brain or chemical reactions in the body telling you to feel good? Or is there a deeper sense of happiness? Bar none, today was a happy day for me. Well, at least compared to the way the past few weeks have been. This day was filled with small things that made me feel genuinely happy. I talked to and spent time with someone really special who made me understand why things are the way they are, I took one gigantic step forward in my new career path, I saw old friends, made new ones. All in one day. And for the first time in weeks, my heart was the one smiling. I guess that's what happiness is. Small things that touch you in a very profound manner when you least expect it. Maybe, God uses these small trinkets of joy to remind you that even when you think that layer of sadness is impenetrable, there are other things and people out there who can still break right through it. So I guess what we should remember is, anyone can be happy. He just has to allow it to happen and let God do the rest. Here's what my friend sent me a while ago which I think perfectly explains it. "Yes indeed, it won't be long now. God's decree - things are going to happen so fast, your head will swim. One thing fast on the heels of the other. You won't be able to keep up. Everything will be happening at once, and everywhere you look, blessings!! Blessings like wine pouring off the mountains and hills." - Amos 9:13 Time for me to start looking around. Loving unconditionally goes against many of the social standards that we place a premium on. It is also very difficult to do because in loving unconditionally, we do not give our love in trickles, we give ALL of it, all of ourselves. Nowadays, people tend to measure the amount of love they give out and more often than not, the more they give, the more they expect in return. So how do children do it? How do they surrender their whole heart to love and easily give it back? Maybe the key is selflessness. Loving and caring for others before yourself. I know, that's hard to do because looking after your own interest becomes second nature to us in this dog eat dog society. But remember, when we fall deeply in love, and we think deep inside that the person deserves all our love, don't we effortlessly give it regardless of the repercussions? Don't we just go all the way for that person even though some people say we shouldn't because of love? That means we CAN love unconditionally. I believe that when Jesus died on the cross for us, he gave us that gift. The ability to love unconditionally. I remember asking a loved one before why she does all these things for me and she said, "Because my happiness comes from seeing you smile, hearing you laugh, and feeling your happiness." The feeling I got from hearing that is how good it is to be on the receiving end of unconditional love. A love that only the child in us can give. Let's all dig through the mess inside and find that child in us, with His help. I THINK THIS IS THE REAL HAPPINESS...SERVING GOD AND LOVING HIM FAITHFULLY. My happiness is when I dig down deep in God's word and worship Him. How about yours?