Well-Travelled =)

My Lakbayan grade is A!

How much of the Philippines have you visited? Find out at Lakbayan!

Created by Eugene Villar.

Success in His Hands

The LORD said to Joshua,
"Do not be afraid of them; I have given them into your hand.
Not one of them will be able to withstand you."
-Joshua 10:8



No greater confidence will ever come to you or to any other Christian
than the confidence of knowing you are doing God's will.
God will not commission you to do anything without ensuring your success.
God assured Joshua that there was no reason to fear as he prepared
to battle the Canaanites. God would allow the Israelites to fight the battle,
but the outcome was settled before they picked up their weapons!
What a confidence this gave them as they fought!
Even though their enemies fought relentlessly,
Joshua's army was certain of eventual victory.

Always remember this:
God does not promise you victory in every task you devise,
but He does promise that you will be successful whenever you follow His will.



sweet p.s. note: For all of you who prayed for my health, BIG THANKS! God has made me WELL. Yep3x, THE WARRIOR CHICK IS BACK!

TGBTG!! =)

Under Time =(

A prayer is highly appreciated.

Thank you and God bless,

Isaac and Rebekah

If you haven't read this book

...WHY?


=)


Kidding aside, this book is indeed a no ordinary wait-for-your-right-time written work but rather like a savvy compass to guide all the single ladies (gentlemen are also welcome) in navigating the territories of love, dating and self-empowerment---ask niyo pa The New York Times.


I've read this book 3 times. Haha. You heard it right, 3 times! =) Once last year and twice this year. I can't help but to learn over and over again the basic and not-so-basic-anymore principles of love, courtship and marriage. It is good to be reminded kasi nga we cannot make salig of our utok-brain lalo na our mere emotions lang. Anyway, I'll be sharing a portion of this book in which you can learn BIG TIME in as much as I did! In fact, these 3 pages out of 223 were bookmarked because it gave a powerful revelation to my most adored love story in the Bible.


ISAAC AND REBEKAH

(p.54-56, What To Do Until Love Finds You by Michelle McKinney Hammond)

"When Abraham decided it was time for his son Isaac to get married, he gave his most trusted servant instructions to return to Abraham's homeland and select a bride for his son. (He didn't want Isaac getting involved with the foreign women of the region where they were living.) The servant obediently set out to accomplish his master's wishes. When he reached the place where Abraham's relatives lived, he prayed and asked God to reveal to him the woman who was right for Isaac by moving her to exhibit a spirit that is willing to serve.


About this time, a young woman named Rebekah came to the well to draw water. When the servant asked for a drink of water, she cheerfully responded by offering to water his camels as well. The servant concluded that she was the one.


The Bible takes special pains to point out that Rebekah was beautiful and a virgin. I believe when God dictated the Word, He didn't waste any words---every word that was written bears deep significance. Rebekah's virginity was important to God. As the perfect order of God would have it, Rebekah was a member of Abraham's family clan, and she was willing to follow the servant back to the land where Abraham and Isaac were living. Both of these conditions had been specific requirements given by Abraham. The summation of these events was love at first sight between Isaac and Rebekah. They were married, and along came a set of twins, the youngest part of the direct bloodline of Jesus Christ.


To me, this story in Genesis can be an analogy for one of God's promises of relationship. Look at it this way: Abraham typifies your heavenly Father. And God knows exactly where your husband is and where you are. At the time He deems appropriate, He will send the Holy Spirit (represented by the servant) to design your meeting and coming together. There are two requirements in God's mind of what will make a blessed union.


First and foremost, both people must belong to the family of God. The Bible says we are not to be equally yoked together with unbelievers. Although humans beings are all God's creation, not all are claimed as Hid children. We have to acknowledge Him as Father and yield to His authority before we can walk in the confidence that we have been adopted out of the world and into His family. Only through repentance and confession of His Lordship are we translated from illegitimacy into a family that is a royal priesthood.


Being equally yoked requires more than two people being Christians. It helps when people have the same backgrounds and share the complementary goals and values. Two becoming one is a lot easier to achieve when both parties are walking in the same direction, which brings me to the second point of this story: Rebekah had to be willing to go where Isaac was.

As women of God we have to be willing to be a support system to our husbands, no matter where they are in life. I'm not talking about just physical location, either. I am referring to where they are emotionally, mentally, and spiritually. We cannot go into a relationship and marriage planning to change or move a man from where he is. That is God's job and depends on what He decides needs to be changes."

Awesome! How do you like that divine truth about love and waiting? You know what, If I'll be given the chance to meet this incredible author, I will surely give her a high five and a hug!! I will also definitely thank her for writing such a wonderful book. Ayeeeh!


For those of you who haven't read this book yet, sige na. Don't waste your time. Go to your nearest Christian bookstore and grab a copy of WTDULFY! Such a very good investment to minister our hearts. =)



TOODLES!!!

I Am Maybe Sabaan But I Am a Well-Kept Woman

Hi there my dear bloggers and readers (kung meron man. haha) This blog entry is kinda different because I'll be sharing about somebody whom I've known for 25 graceful years. Alright, to have an easier introduction about her, please try to look at the picture to your left. Yep, that's me. Me, myself and I.


I am MARYARIBEKAH (my world-wide-web screen name) and I'm a proud member of the Christian Sanguine Society. Oh yeah, you're right. That society doesn't actually exist. But for those of you na maka-relate, just go on and read it. =) And by the way, I'm a member na pala of this group since ummm---kindergarten. hehehe.


So what qualifies me to be in here?





Ok. Let's face it. I'm really sabaan---visayan term for talkative. ouch. haha. When I'm with people (take note, real people. real friends), my energy level sometimes gets so high that it becomes contagious to those who are emotionally down and troubled. Wow! That's the spirit of joy and happiness multiplying! Perhaps, that's one of the reasons why I consider my pagkasabaan as an asset, not a liability. A strength and not as a weakness.



And because I'm sabaan, I speak too much. But don't worry, it's manageable. hahaha! I still know when to open my mouth and talk or to shut up and listen---special thanks to the "Fruit of the Spirit" SELF CONTROL. I've learned much. *wink-wink* Anyway, just to let you know that there was an instance when I was asked to sit beside my papa when he drove 24 hours NON STOP. Why? Just to keep him awake all the time! See, I told yah. My ability of speaking too much is sometimes beneficial. bwahaha!


In connection with that bwahaha, Opo...opo. I "laugh-out-loud". SUPER LOUD. I was never a Maria-Clara-wanna-be (in terms of LOLing) hehehe. I do not laugh with a paypay or a handkerchief to cover my mouth. I don't laugh pa-cute. Aw, kinsa man pu'y pa-cute an? Hahaha! 'Coz when there's an extreme joy in my heart, it overflows. But in case you don't know me well, mababaw lang po ang kaligayahan ko. Oh please do not get me wrong. To make it clear, simple things can really make me happy. =)


Sanguine people are hyper-slash-active. Count me in. I'm adventurous and never afraid in trying out new things. I want to go bungee jumping, zip lining, air walking, sky diving, scuba diving, etc! I even want to travel the whole Philippines and abroad. In fact, I'm almost done with Mindanao. Next up, Visayas!! Wanna come?


But, in spite of my "loudiness" and "bubbliness", I'm still God's well-kept woman. Some people misinterpret the Sanguines especially the women as "easy ones." In bisaya, humok daw ug ilong. Pardon me. I beg to disagree. Because personally (okay. I'm talking about myself ha?), I always make sure that "as for me and my heart aka emotions, WE WILL SERVE THE LORD" and as a result of it, other people will be blessed. I maybe clumsy and marks some purple bruises on my knees and elbows, but by God's grace when it comes to my heart, I KNOW HOW TO GUARD IT WELL. I even guard it like a Steve Nash or any other best point-guard players in NBA! A friend sees it as a "toughness" on my part. But no, it's only a matter of playing it "offensively." Lisod na mailog ang "bola" nga wala sa oras labi na hapit na unta ma-shoot! Yay, kasakit! It's been a while na pud diay na I'm playing it "offensively." 25 years of guarding (sige, minus the childhood days na wala'y labot. hehe) and karon pa kaha nako ipa-ilog? NO WAY! Kaya to my best enemy (the deceiver of all hearts) in this stage called waiting, BACK OFF! You cannot expect anything from me. I won't give in to your lies either. Sorry.

So thankful that the Lord taught me to keep my heart with all diligence because out of it flows the issues of life and death (See Proverbs 4:23).



One more thing, Michelle McKinney Hammond mentioned in her book What To Do Until Love Finds You that a well-kept woman do not "initiate." Leave it to the men. She said that the answer to finding the right role with the right leading man in the right play is important but not easily mastered. That's why in this area, single women (like me!) just need to relax and shed off those worries. Michelle and I are convinced that the only way to have an effective relationship--the way God designed it--is for both parties (men and women) stick to their roles.


I am such a believer and an advocate of TRUE LOVE WAITS. I do not easily lower my standard or settle for anything less just because I'm looking at my watch. The man that God reserved for me will see and recognize my specialness because I'm the piece of himself that he's been missing. I will complete the puzzle of his life. And no matter how long I have been waiting, my hope is still up and know that this man God has for me will surpass my expectations. I will meet him when God says so. Not a minute early, not a moment late. (Words and wisdom inspired by MMH. Ten Claps for her!)





I am MARYARIBEKAH. What you see is what you get. This is me. I am maybe sabaan but I am God's well-kept woman.


To God be the glory!! =)


p.s. If you find yourself wailing in the loneliest part of the sea, let me suggest you 2 things. First, open and give your heart to Jesus and receive that peace, comfort and joy you've been looking for. And second, go to my org---the Christian Sanguine Society (hehehe!) and meet a friend like me to cheer you up, give you a heart warming encouragement with an additional confetti to finally paint a smile on your face! Be blessed!