The path of righteousness

This is what the Lord says— your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: “I am the Lord your God, who teaches you what is best for you, who directs you in the way you should go.

Isaiah 48:17 NIV

Almost every night my best friend will call me after all of his works done to pray with me.  I praise God who gives him strength every time we will talk.  Now, for you to picture vividly of what he is doing every day I will discuss a portion of it. He has different hats to put everyday of his life.  At morning he wakes up around 5:30 to 6am to ask the Lord to lead him in everything he wants him to do.  At 7am he goes to the construction site to pray with the workers and play as their spiritual leader even if he is just the contractor of the houses that were given to the Yolanda (Haiyan) victims by a Christian organization.  And for the whole afternoon he is busy sharing the word of God, talking to people and conducting/training people to disciple as modeled by Jesus Christ in Matthew 28:19-20.  You see he is not from Samar where he is residing now for less than a year but God called him to reach out for this people.  At night when he lie down and call me, we discuss about things we did the whole day and how God unfolds his plan to the circumstances we faced.  It seems ordinary when we look at the stuff that was done but when we share it to one another the common day to day routine becomes reminder of who we were in the past compare to our now selves.

Last night we talked about our struggles with the previous conversations that we had.  God rebuked him on how he talk to me in private and I also to him, it didn’t give God honor and glory.  More than two weeks ago I was rebuke by God also and silently praying that He will lead Kuya Paul to a higher leadership and a man of God and do the same with me, woman of God.  And as a result we agreed to strengthen one another through prayers and rebuking one another with love.  Sabi nga nya “magpalakasan tayo kung saan tayo mahina”.  I praise God for keeping his promises to us and teaching us to direct our paths. 

Looking back to our past lives, we were not this close and obedient to God.  I was just an ordinary lady who pursues her dream to become the top executives of a leading company in our country and eventually creates her own.  I always look forward to absorb knowledge and ultimately use it to build stepping stone for my dreams.  And him, he was far from the Lord.  He acknowledged God and prayers but do exactly different from what pleases God.  His hunger for love drove him to search at different kinds of lustful desires, money/possession and power.  He constantly earns and invests in different businesses like canteen, gay bars and even illegal ones which generated a lot of money.  Yet his hunger for wrong love did not satisfy him, in fact instead of being happy he had a lot of loses one of those was the breakdown of his marriage.  It was just last 2012 when things crumbled when he was in Kuala Lumpur and planned to end his life that He gave up everything to God.  After this, his life was change and use by God to glorify him up to this day.  God is awesome and powerful to redeem us, direct our paths and teach what’s best for all of us. To God be the glory!

Characteristics of a man/woman you must pray for your future partner.

Characteristics of a man/woman you must pray for your future partner.  Nothing is too late in God's perspective.  Whether you are waiting or in a relationship, 'prayer'is one of the keys to a successful relationship you will or may have.

1) Pray that he/she will love God above anyone or anything else.

Most men in our days love their cars, gadgets, etc more than God, wife, or children.  I read a story not to long ago in a social media site that a man washing and wiping his car it as if it is his wife.  One day his son went out of their garage to express his love for his dad and mom through drawing a picture of their family on one of the doors of his father's car.  Now the boy not knowing what he did was wrong hurriedly called his dad to show what he drawn.  To his surprise instead of hugging him, his dad with one hand holding a wrench start stubbing his hands.  While doing so, his dad saw his son's bleeding hands and came to his senses.  He immediately drove the car to emergency room and have his son's hands medicated.   After the last bandage was tied his son asked him "dad, will my fingers grow back like the plants in our garden?".

On the other hand, women are also guilty in loving or caring possessions like bags, shoes, clothes, make ups, gadgets and a lot more.  Don't get me wrong, I also buy stuffs like that and make myself presentable in every way I could.  What am I saying here is the condition of our hearts in buying those things.  Are we buying stuffs that we need or just because the media dictates us that this one will make you look more pretty or more worthy.  As A.W. Tozer said in one of his created devotionals "Human excellence consists in the perfection of human nature. Things cannot enter men to make them better or more worthy. "A man can receive nothing, except it be given him from heaven." Only the God who made man's nature in the first place can remake it after the divine image."http://www.cmalliance.org/devotions/tozer?id=1293   We must check our hearts when buying things so it will give glory to God.  Joy Tanchi-Mendoza said in one of her blogs that she considers her kasambahays ( house helps) in buying stuffs for her and her family.  And she also make sure to live by her means and clothe her family well that when people look at them, they will give praises to God.

Often times we are guilty of loving anyone or anything above God.  Through the bible, I realized that we must love and honor God before our family, friends and people around us and not to love possessions from this world.  For if we love Him first and foremost He will show us the path of life and teach us how to love like him whether towards him, your family, friends, ministry, missions and others.  He will also tell us that we should not focus on earthly things that can be rotten or steal by thief instead we must focus on the eternal things that will glorify Him as he said in Luke 12:32-34 (32 “Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom. 33 Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will never fail, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. 34 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.).


2) Pray that he/she will be spiritually intimate with God first before you.

Being spiritually intimate with God first will teach you how to be genuinely intimate with your future partner.  Like Abraham whom God told his plans for Israel in the future, he will be a father of a great nation.  Jacob whom God showed in his dream a great numbers of angels going up and down one night in his journey to prove that He is the God of his father and forefathers.  David, who called the man after God's own heart and many more.  God will mold and show us his design for each one of us while devoting our single times with Him. He will also secure our hearts that with him we are complete and need nothing but him alone.  Take every moment closing God and make him your first 'Beloved' or 'Husband'.

3) Pray that he/she will have a submissive heart before God.

Ephesians 5:21
How can someone lead a family or submit to one another if they do not know how to fully submit to God their hearts first?  Learn while single how to respect and submit to God, your parents, mentors/disciplers, pastors/leaders, to your earthly bosses, and those who has authority above you.  In that, we will learn how to be submissive.

4) Pray that as early as now God will teach him to lead righteously and assume responsibilities (him)

Like Jesus in Matthew 11:28-30, pray that he will also lead his family, ministry, missions, church, etc like him.  Matthew 1:19-20

5)  Pray that he will be a good provider and for her not to demand instead help him meet their family's needs.

Just like what God says in Philippians 4:19 that He will supply all our need according ti his riches in his kingdom, pray that he will ask God in how to provide for his family as this is God's design for him.  And on the part of women, pray that she will support his husband for their family and not demand on their wants.  Women, learn from Proverbs 31.

6) Pray that he/she will have a servant's heart like Jesus.

Philippians 2:3

Almost everyone got their non-negotiable list in terms of the quality they are looking for the right one or the God's best for them.  I am not saying that it is bad because this one is also a prayer list on non-negotiable in general terms.  However, I suggest that we should not focus on looking for him/her instead, get busy on knowing God and his business.  Get busy knowing your design.  You are created for a great purpose in God's kingdom more than you know, so seek Him now.  Also remember His promises.  If you are tired of waiting ask God to show the direction you have to take and dare to heed His leading.  God has plans for each of us and he is more than willing to share it to us now.  For us who waits, let our waiting be used for his glory, our growth in all aspects of life and find joy and peace in his arms.  God bless us all.

(textbook: Bible, Pray Big for you Marriage by Will Davis, Jr., Joy Tanchi-Mendoza blog entry, AW Tozer daily Devotionals)   

To G or not to G?! Boracay Escapade 2014

At last I have marked my calendar and set my feet on the beautiful white sand of the famous ‘Boracay Island’.  Last year I and my friends were planning to go there for a three (3) day vacation however, because of some circumstances the planned did not work out.  Thankfully I have a sovereign God who honors the desires of my (our) hearts, as a result Boracay did happen.

We were booked two weeks before the holy week but we got the cheapest price since one of our friends is working in a booking agency and the airlines that we fly with had a promo in time for our getaway.   Though I highly suggest that you should book your flight months before the date you want to fly anywhere if given a chance. 

We left Manila at around 8am and arrived in Kalibo at 8:55am.  From Kalibo we traveled via a van which we did not expect that only the two of us were the only passengers then, again, I believe that it was a favor from God.  From Kalibo to the port of Caticlan were about 2 and half hours travel.  Upon arriving at the port we immediately asked for our tickets for the ferry (250 each for van and ferry boat to Boracay Island) and walked towards the receiving hall.  We thought of the easiest way to go inside however, there were some trouble like we need to buy an entrance fee which cost us 75 Php each and signed a document for tourism purposes. 

 

And after a quite long travel, here we are in Boracay Island.  We rode a tricycle from the port to Station 2 so we can find a hotel for us (this is what backpackers do) to stay for three days.  On our way to Station 2, one of our co-rider Manong Nelson asked us if we were looking for a place to stay and we said yes.  So when he told the driver to stop the motorcycle so he can alight, we also got down and went with him.  Even its holy week we were able to find a decent hotel for us to stay in an ample of time.  We just walked around while manong Nelson was coordinating with his wife and co-tourist guide for us to know where we can get a good place with a cheap price.  We passed by La Carmela and hotel Regency but we got the best deal (both for its cost and ambience) in Villa de Oro hotel.  As we settled our accounts, manong Nelson bid us goodbye and for us we entered our villa to rest. 

After our late lunch we opted to stay in the hotel to take a nap to recharge.  At night, we were able to eat at the hotel and watched the fire dancers.

The next day was adventurous for us.  We ate breakfast at the hotel and walked at the shoreline of the place from station 2 towards station 1.  I let one of the women there braid my hair at a cost of 80 Php and moved forward to station 1 for the grotto photos.  As we went back to our hotel, we called manong Nelson to accompany us to some well-known activities in the Island and he was more than willing to attend to our needs he said, this is my work as a guide.  Before lunch we went to a place to ride a buggy/atv car and alongside we were able to climb mount ____ to take some pictures of the whole Island.  After that, we also tried zip line adventure for 700 Php each and 500 Php for the cd full of your photos and videos. 

Then we ate at D’ Palengke where we market seafood and went to one of the restaurants to cooked our food (paluto style).

We capped the day with our last adventure yet most enjoyable and memorable for me, “Parasailing”.  This was so far the best activity that everybody should try when they get to Boracay.  Relaxing and at the same time exciting.  It was like your flying and yet the fly was smooth and full of beauty.  Aim to fly at sunset, it is better

My best friend and i 

my best friend and i capturing the sunset at its best

At night we opted to take a dip for a while and eat dinner in the place we were staying.  The Island was solemn in Good Friday; they respect and observe the religious beliefs of the people around.  Actually, earlier that day locals had their “prusisyon” or the sacrifice walk to commemorate Jesus Christ’s crucifixion.   

As we go back to reality the next day, I looked back and think how blessed we were to have this one of kind vacation in Boracay. It’s a one destination you can go back and try something new or just relax and stroll at the beach. Beautiful place, nice people and fun activities. Verdict? Let’s G!

(all photos were taken in Boaracay, Island by my best friend and i)

James 1:17

New International Version (NIV)

17 Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.