Come! Bodia :)

I'm considering of coming again to this

place which have left a precious mark in my heart.

(The Royal Palace)

Phnom Penh, Cambodia.

Isn't she lovely?

Exquisitely wonderful.

But behind her beauty is a

heart longing for God's mercy.

And no matter how she displays her splendor,

her dark past is still haunting her.

She's wailing. Will she be heard?

(A tower full of skulls and bones. -Killing Fields)

And so here I am Lord, please send me [again].

(Phnom Penh International Airport)

Let me become a channel of blessing to Your children.

(Kids Ministry)

And minister to their weary hearts.

(Opencell in the Barrio)

Will you allow me, Father?

Ah, I know You will. :)

(TukTuk ride. Local's means of transportation)

Habakkuk 2:14

"For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory

of the Lord as the waters cover the sea."

#inYourTime

SLOWly But SUREly!

Turtles, as we all know, are super slow creatures.

Sometimes it's just so boring watching them crawl---one step in 3seconds! *yawn...* But in spite of that, [just in case you do not know. haha!] turtles are also associated with "long life" or with this word which I liked better---LONGEVITY. Alright. Maybe what I'm trying to say on this blog entry is this: In life, making decisions are so essential and mind you, it's sometimes crucial. We cannot afford things to happen and then regret afterwards. Oo nga naman, wala pa talagang pagsisisi na nasa unahan. Palagi itong nasa huli---familiar phrase, huh? At times, it's good to "turtle" our decisions. Take it slowly and what's better? Pair it with wisdom. Thinking it over even a hundred times will never be considered as a "wasted time" (got this from my Mama, BTW). And in straightening out a decision, to slow down and be patient is not a sign of being weak, in fact it's of strength. Because those who know how to wait [aka taking it easy] in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles, they will run the race and never grow weary and they can walk and not be faint. -Isaiah 40:31.

The decisions and choices we make now also determine our destiny. And destiny's longevity shouldn't be brushed with wrong..oh so wrong settlements. Because if we'll not learn now, we'll pay later. Proverbs 19:2 says "It is not good to have zeal without knowledge, nor to be hasty and miss the way." Tama, we cannot miss the way. Jesus already paved it for us and a single, misguided turn will definitely bring forth consequences [the pay-later part]. Uh-oh. To end this, please allow me to say "hinay-hinay lang." Let's enjoy also our "decision-referral" with the Lord and have Him say the final super final decision. Yes, if we want to be fully guided...leave it to Him, it should be His. #OurShepherd

Photo taken 3 years ago in a lagoon nearby where we stayed in Singapore. #GoFestAsia :)

My Jonathan

1st Samuel 18:1 and 3

"After David had finished talking with Saul,

Jonathan became one in spirit with David, and he loved him as himself.

And Jonathan made a covenant with David because he loved him as himself."

Fourteen years of heart-felt friendship,

how fast time flies...

You loved me like David,

I cared for you like Jonathan.

Fourteen years of winning battles together,

and not a single moment we doubted

that we can reach this far.

But it's been awhile since we unwrapped our hearts

and just have a "real" talk.

Oh how I missed this...

how I missed YOU.

Actually, this blog won't be too long.

I just want to end up these how(s) and why(s)

that we can [perhaps] both answer.

Soon.

#BestFriend

ALTHOUGH

I saw this somewhere...

Heart is crying because it says all.

Dear JC Love,

please teach me how to love like You do.

Please allow me to see beyond

these many "ALTHOUGHs."

Yes, teach my heart.

I'm willing.

Your daughter,

The Unwritten Story

"They say that faint heart never won fair lady; It is amazing to me how fair ladies are won, so faint are often men's hearts."

-Anthony Trollope, from Quest For Love by Elisabeth Elliot


"There are three things that are too amazing for me, four that I do not understand: the way of an eagle in the sky,
the way of a snake on a rock, the way of a ship on the high seas,
and the way of a man with a maiden."

-King Solomon, Book of Proverbs

They are just two of the many wise men awed by their "ways" in capturing the hearts of the women. But no matter how amazing it is, I believe it is still the women's prerogative whether she'll finally give her heart away and entrust it to that brave man or not. And if a man's "brave heart" is part of the criteria, is it enough for her to step on the gasoline and say yes to him?




I WONDER.

Genesis 24:16 -The girl was very beautiful, a virgin; no man had ever lain with her. She went down to the spring, filled her jar and came up again.


I wonder how many brave men tried to win Rebekah's heart before she bumped Mr. Eliezar, her future hubby's servant. Please remember, she's beautiful, pure and kindhearted! Madaming manliligaw for sure. =)


Genesis 24: 17- The servant hurried to meet her and said, "Please give me a little water from your jar."


I wonder how many lion-hearted warriors "approached" her whenever she does her daily task by the well.


Genesis 24:18-20-"Drink, my lord," she said, and quickly lowered the jar to her hands and gave him a drink. After she had given him a drink, she said, "I'll draw water for your camels too, until they have finished drinking." So she quickly emptied her jar into the trough, ran back to the well to draw more water, and drew enough for all his camels.


I wonder if there was a time she was "misinterpreted" by a man for the help she offered and or for friendship (yup! just for friendship) she conveyed?


Genesis 24: 28-The girl ran and told her mother's household about these things.


I wonder if her family never missed a single update about her lovelife. =)


Genesis 24:30-As soon as he had seen the nose ring, and the bracelets on his sister's arms, and had heard Rebekah tell what the man said to her, he went out to the man and found him standing by the camels near the spring.


I wonder if she had turned down lots of gifts which were offered to her by some confident gentlemen---especially if the man gave a gift and was "expecting" something in return. Tsk3x.


Genesis 24:32-So the man went to the house, and the camels were unloaded. Straw and fodder were brought for the camels, and water for him and his men to wash their feet.


I wonder if she welcomed "anybody" into her house to formally do an "akyat-ligaw" aside from master Isaac's faithful servant.



But I guess I already know the answer. The truth is, Rebekah would never meet and marry her one true love Isaac if she allowed into her heart any of those "brave men" who were not (definitely not!) destined for her. Maybe it was never easy for her to turn them down, but nevertheless, it was the wisest thing to do. What a beautiful woman---inside and out!



What I've learned from the past few weeks is very important: That we girls got to be very careful whenever a knight-in-shining-armor is trying to save and win our hearts. Let's be critical. EXAMINE EVERYTHING---of which is very important, HIS HEART. How's his heart for the Lord, for his family, for his ministry and for you---his future bride. Remember, we are not a "Damsel-in-distress", we are God's princesses! Christ already won our hearts, and so, these brave men (if they are truly brave) should go to Him and seek Him first before they can "see" us and ask for our "precious hands" for marriage. Yeah, that's what I call A REAL MAN with A BRAVE HEART! =)



P.S. You know what? I don't really get kilig whenever a man does a "wonderful thing" to me. Hahaha! What kiligs (the term!) me most is that whenever I see God handling the situation and arranging things between a man and a woman---even without any effort coming from these two!


O, diba? Yun ang kilig?!