When we pray... we really are exercising our faith and trust our amazing God!

closing 2010

As 2010 draws to a close tomorrow, I found myself reflecting on the year today. 2010 brought many joys to our lives and many big changes as well. I could remember moments during this year when I felt my heart would burst open in it's fullness of joy and thanksgiving. Moments in my life when words aren't enough to describe them. Moments like our son's baptism, my husband's graduation, family trip to FL, my husband's installment in his churches, our son's wonderful success in school, our 10th year anniversary! These were only a few of the amazing blessings He's given us this year. At times like these, you cannot help but say, "God, you are soooo incredibly good!"

2010 also had it's share of valleys. The death of my Uncle Tim shortly before the holidays was particularly difficult for the family and for me. Both my grandfathers suffered a stroke a day apart from each other in the Philippines. The distance definitely made the news harder to bare. The most difficult valley for me to willingly cross was leaving the place I have grown to love and cherish, moving from Berrien Springs back to Canada. It has been especially difficult for me to adjust to my new surroundings and the demands of living in the city and adapting to it's lifestyle have been something I continue to struggle with. It hasn't been an easy year for me personally but through it all, God was and is with me. Whether it be in joy and happiness or in mourning and sadness, He is beside me... holding my hand and forever faithful. And so even during the struggles, one can't help but say, "God, you are sooo incredibly good!"

There's an old song that I used to listen to when I was a little girl that came to my mind today. The words speak exactly how I feel as I look back at the hills and valleys of 2010.

More Than Wonderful

He promised us that He would be a counsellor.

A mighty God and a Prince of Peace.

He promised us that He would be a Father,

and would love us with a love that would not cease .

For He’s More Wonderful than my mind can conceive.

He’s More Wonderful than my heart can believe.

He goes beyond my highest hopes and fondest dreams.

He’s everything that my soul ever longed for.

Everything He’s promised and sooo much more…

More than amazing. More than marvelous.

More than miraculous could ever be…

He’s More Than Wonderful, that’s what Jesus is to me!

I stand amazed when I think that the King of Glory

Would come to lie within the heart of man

Oh, I marvel just to know He really loves me

When I think of who He is and who I am.

For He’s More Wonderful than my mind can conceive.

He’s More Wonderful than my heart can believe.

He goes beyond my highest hopes and fondest dreams.

He’s everything that my soul ever longed for.

Everything He’s promised and sooo much more…

More than amazing. More than marvelous.

More than miraculous could ever be…

He’s More Than Wonderful, that’s what Jesus is to me!

trusting His heart

"But He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." ... For when I am weak, then I am strong." 2 Corinthians 12:9,10

~God is enough for me... for my problems, my pain, my hurt and my desires. When I am afraid or worried or self-condemning, I will remember WHO sustains me! God is sufficient! So I will lay my burdens, flaws, needs, guilt, anger, frustration, fear, disappointments and desires on His shoulders and trust His heart!!!~

princess

I realized that I'm a princess!!! Yes, you read right... I'm a princess! Not only did I mentally acknowledged it but also I felt like a princess!

If God is our Father and He was the King then that would make you and me princesses and princes! I knew that. But it was only this weekend did I really feel it from the top of my head to the tip of my toes. I felt incredibly loved. I felt special and incredibly precious even with all my flaws. I felt Him loving on me! And boy, it's an incredible feeling to be loved like that!

It's incredibly humbling to experience the connection between the knowing and the feeling of being loved greatly. But what's even more liberating is finally accepting that kind of love from Him. To allow Him to love me. To allow myself to feel His love without attaining "perfection" first so I would deserve that love. To allow Him to see and touch the hurt inside my heart... to acknowledge that it's there and it hurts. That it's ok that He sees it and that I share it with Him. And that it's ok to let go of it... and allow Him to heal it. Oh, I felt so filled... filled to overflowing with His love.

I am His and He is my Father. And I am HIS princess!

satisfied to look on Him

This week has been a little rough. It wasn't because I was so busy but more like I was often discouraged and frustrated. I wanted to go to Revive tonight (vespers) but I came home late from helping one of the Auntie's at church and it had started already. So instead of rushing everyone out and knowing me it would frustrate me... I opted to just stay home.

I ended up listening to some of my favorite songs online. I came across this song called "Before The Throne of God Above" and oh... the comfort and peace the words gave was exactly what I needed. An awesome reminder of my Savior's mercy and love. My favorite part says... "When Satan tempts me to despair, and tells me of the guilt within, upward I look, and see Him there who made an end of all my sin. Because a sinless Savior died, my sinful soul is counted free; For God, the Just, is satisfied to look on Him and pardon me, to look on Him and pardon me."

Oh what comfort that is!!!

Before the throne of God above

I have a strong, a perfect plea:

A great High Priest, whose name is Love,

Who ever lives and pleads for me.

My name is graven on his hands,

My name is written on his heart;

I know that while in heaven he stands

No tongue can bid me thence depart

No tongue can bid me thence depart.

When Satan tempts me to despair,

And tells me of the guilt within,

Upward I look, and see him there

Who made an end of all my sin.

Because a sinless Savior died,

My sinful soul is counted free;

For God, the Just, is satisfied

To look on Him and pardon me

To look on Him and pardon me

Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Praise the One,

Risen Son of God!

Behold him there, the risen Lamb

My perfect, spotless righteousness,

The great unchangeable I am,

The King of glory and of grace!

One in himself, I cannot die

My soul is purchased by his blood

My life is hid with Christ on high,

With Christ, my Savior and my God

With Christ, my Savior and my God

I love this song...

My true VALENTINE...

On this Valentine's Day, I'm remembering and celebrating God's love for me. JESUS is and always have been my true Valentine. =)

I cannot help but think of Him on this day of love because HE IS LOVE. He has shown us what TRUE LOVE is. It's not the love the world tells us... it's not the shower of roses and chocolates. It's not sweet words of beauty and dedication. It's the love that is quiet and constant. It's the love that is never broken or taken back. It's the love that is given so freely. It's the love that requires no payment or return. It's the love that remains at the end of the day when our "masks" are taken off. It's the deep love that He gives no matter what your circumstance is... no matter the state of your heart. It's there... HIS LOVE... it's always there!

So today, I will especially thank Him for His love. I will tell Jesus that I LOVE HIM! I will remember how beautiful He is and how He's wooed me for 28 years and 6 months to continue to fall in love with Him. And even after sooooo many years, He still continues to prove to me how great and marvellous His love is for me.

Oh my Jesus, you love me like no other! You bring such joy with your love and make me feel so special. You give me presents every day of my 28 years of life. You listen to me all day, every day without complain or time limit. You still stand beside me even when I refuse to talk to You and hold me with complete forgiveness, compassion and understanding when I run back to You! You help me pick up the broken and ugly pieces of my life, put them together and make it a life long work of Your art!

To my VALENTINE, I love you so much! Your love is addictive and extravagant. Your love sustains me and give me hope and joy. I'm so in love with You. I look forward to spending the rest of my life on earth and in heaven with You! Oh, what a sweet sweet meeting that will be when I see my beautiful Valentine face to face!

"I can only imagine, what it will be like when I walk, by Your side.

I can only imagine, what my eyes will see when your face is before me. I can only imagine.

Surrounded by Your glory, what will my heart feel. Will I dance for you Jesus or in awe of you be still? Will I stand in your presence or to my knees will I fall? Will I sing hallelujah, will I be able to speak at all! I can only imagine.

I can only imagine, when that day comes and I find myself standing in the Son.

I can only imagine, when all I will do is forever, forever worship You.

I can only imagine!"

believe

Oh God, you've "brought me this far to leave me"! This song sang by the Revelation Hope Singers at their concert yesterday spoke my heart's song of late. So much hope in this song... no matter what you are going through... just can't give up now, He's not gonna leave you! He's brought you this far to leave you!!! Mountains, hills, valleys, storms... we'll have to walk through them but NEVER ALONE! He will hold and sustain us through all of them.

Oh my Jesus, when I feel that I'm just such a hopeless case... I'll remember how far You've brought me and believe You'll not leave me!

Friend, don't lose hope... HE LOVES YOU! Don't give up for your Saviour, Jesus, never gives up on you! May we sing this song every time discouragement sets in and bring us hope and remember we are not alone!

"Can't Give Up Now"

There will be mountains that I will have to climb

And there will be battles that I will have to fight

But victory or defeat, it's up to me to decide

But how can I expect to win If I never try.

I just can't give up now

I've come too far from where I started from

Nobody told me the road would be easy

and I don't believe he brought me this far to leave me

Never said there wouldn't be trials

Never said I would't fall

Never said that everything would go the way I want it to go

But when my back is against the wall

And i feel all hope is gone,

I'll just lift my head up to the sky

And say help me to be strong

I just can't give up now

I've come too far from where I started from

Nobody told me the road would be easy

and I don't believe he brought me this far to leave me

No you didn't bring me out here to leave me lonely

Even when I can't see clearly

I know that you are with me (so I can't)

I just can't give up now

I've come too far from where I started from

Nobody told me the road would be easy

and I don't believe he brought me this far to leave me