Here’s another

This guy is pretty cool, too. Love his cover of Go On Girl by Ne-Yo. Check him out on myspace: http://www.myspace.com/braddoggett

Presidential Musings

Just read Pastor Steve’s blog. In it he said that he voted for Mike Huckabee. I really don’t know much about American politics but this much I do know, the guy does have a sense of humor. I was actually pretty sold on Barrack Obama before I found out he was pro-abortion (also from Pastor Steve). Blame it on Oprah. When I saw that she was backing Barrack, I immediately went and talked to everyone I knew about why Barrack Obama should be the next US President.

Just goes to show how easy it is to form an opinion and stand by it as if it were absolute truth.

When campaign season for our own country’s presidential derby rolls in, I will know better to read the papers, to really research on potential presidents, to observe the person’s track record, not just what s/he has done but what this person stands for and if his/her life reflects those convictions.

Anyone can win a debate, or at least sound smart debating. But not everyone who goes up there actually lives what s/he believes.

I’m Back!

And what a tiring week it has been!

As you know, I am back working at Summit Media. The week was spent chatting with people I used to work with, adjusting to a (not-so) new work environment, remembering how to draft a memo to treasury and other things I used to be able to do with my eyes closed and getting to know the new PR team. 

The week was made extra-special because as I faced the new challenges in my life, I began to realize just how much I need God and how much I desire for His purpose for moving me back to Summit to be fulfilled. All week long, as I read His Word, it’s been promise after promise, reassurance after reassurance. I’m just really blown away at how awesome God is.

I hate goodbyes

Just two more days to go before I am officially not part of the staff of Victory. I hate goodbyes and that’s why I’m dreading the next two days.

The last year and a half have been memorable. I have learned so much from working with people who not only talk the talk but walk the walk. Nobody is perfect, of course, and I’m not going to say the people I work with are but they are real people who genuinely love God and love people. It doesn’t get any better than that.

I am so grateful to God for giving me the opportunity to get to work for the ministry. To be able to witness what God is doing in the lives of people and in a small way, get to be part of that.

Thank You, God. You are awesome.

The week in review

Things that have happened this past week:

1. Moving out, Moving in
I moved into a condo in Greenhills last Monday. The place is owned by the mother of one of my friends from church. I am renting half of one of the rooms, which means I have a roommate — one of my good friends, Eunice. Not a lot of adjustment since I got a taste of living away from home and with people from church before. The only adjustment is sharing the room with someone else since I used to occupy a room on my own before. Everything’s great though. It’s fun having someone to talk to after work.

2. Not a great way to prepare for a fast
I started cutting down on food four days prior to the start of our annual prayer and fasting. That meant not having the usual snacks and dinner. Everything was going well until the day we had our meeting to brainstorm about how to improve the way we do our worship services. We held the day-long meeting at Discovery Suites in Ortigas, which serves a pretty good buffet lunch. Dimsum, sashimi, sushi, lamb, fried rice, pasta, crepe, halo-halo and many more! Gosh, what a way to prep for the fast. I didn’t take any rice or pasta but the sashimi and sushi were too good to pass up. Plus a teeny weeny bite of lamb.

3. Juice and Soup Galore!
We started our 7-day prayer and fasting last Wednesday. I committed to doing a liquid fast which means I take onlu juices and soups for seven days. I’m on my third day and so far, so good. Except I wasn’t feeling so good last night. Eunice and I were getting ready to get on the MRT last night when I started to sweat A LOT! I started to feel really dizzy, which they say is normal to feel on the second day of the fast. I feel much better now though. It helps that the prayer meetings are awesome! Fresh fire!

4. The End of a Season
Just two more working days before my season of working for the Fort officially ends. I’m starting to feel sad because I know I’m going to miss the people I work with. I know I’m going to miss working for the church. I know I’m going to miss being part of the team. But I know God has called me elsewhere, at least at this time.

Secrets with God

God and I have a secret.

My goodness, this is literally the first time I’m doing this. Having something inside that I so want to tell my friends about but can’t. This is just something that will be between me and Him.

It’s nice to have something only you and God know.

Awakening

Unlike others who came before you,
What I feel for you grew
Like a seed planted long before

Came out of the ground
With no warning whatsoever
A delightful surprise

Just as a flower
blossoms a bud at a time
My heart will embrace you

No hurry, no noise
Slowly, as the sun rises and sets
And just as certain

*** disclaimer: this poem was written today for no one in particular. really. ***

Holiday Blues

There are a lot of things I am trying to process right now. Stuff that need to be dealt with. Feelings that I thought were dead or non-existent but were hibernating in my heart all along.

One big revelation for me this holiday season is that I’ve been looking to particular people to fulfill needs that now I realize only God can fulfill. I didn’t think this was so until I prayed to God to heal me of my brokenness and asked Him to let any unforgiven hurts surface. I was in for a surprise because the very next day – it came out like I stepped on a mine.

I never realized how high a wall I built around me just to keep myself from being hurt but I ended up making decisions that were completely wrong because the walls were so high I could not see where I was going.

If you’re reading this, none of this might make sense to you. But I guess although I need for this to be just between me and God, I also need to express in writing all of these things I am going through.

The great thing about going through times like this is that because I know now what’s hurt me, I can also forgive.

Breakfast in Tagaytay

Okay.. so I’m beginning to like going on road trips to Tagaytay.

If you know me well, you know that I don’t like traveling. Okay, let me qualify.. I don’t like traveling much. I mean, I absolutely love Boracay! And now I’m starting to like Tagaytay as well. I only like to go to places that are tried and tested. I’m not into adventure much (something I am really trying to overcome) as you can tell.

Here are some pictures from our trip:

first we attended the sambang gabi (dawn service) at 430AM at the Fort

yummy, yummy breakfast buffet at Josephine’s

Marge & Ria

M & Carlo

Meg’s Pregnant Look

Marge & I

We’re going back again sometime next week. Hopefully, we’ll have cooler weather (it wasn’t so cold when we went Saturday) and I think we’ll get the lunch buffet instead of the breakfast buffet the next time around.

Anyone wanna go with us?

For more pictures, click HERE.

Moving On and Moving Back

When I started working for Victory a year and a half ago, I thought I would work there forever.

It was truly a dream come true for me to have been given an opportunity to work full time for the ministry, to have been able to work with the people I’ve had the pleasure to work with these past 18 months. I have learned so much and the relationships I have with the friends and mentors I have now are invaluable.

One year and eight months ago, I was confused and hurt. I had a job that I loved and was pretty good at. I was living away from my family, serving as a volunteer in different ministries in church, was a small group leader, ministering to single women. I had a great relationship with my Mom, was able to see my siblings every weekend, and what I was doing from Mondays to Fridays was something I loved doing.

Then one day, things had to change. I had to decide to move back home, had to resign from work, had to take on a job I had no idea how to do. It was all my choice. I could have said “no.” But God promised me and reassured it was not a mistake, and so I squeezed my eyes shut, and jumped.

I fell into depression for a while. I was confused and unhappy. I didn’t understand why I was made to leave the life I loved to live a life I did not want. I cried out to God for an explanation. I just wanted to know why I was there. One day, I was able to silence the whining and the tantrums and heard God’s patient voice. Finally, I got what He was trying to teach me all that time.

Then it happened. Three months after leaving Summit, I got a job working for Victory.

Even now, I am amazed at how God orchestrated everything.

So, like I said, after a year and a half, I’m leaving my job at Victory and moving on to something well… not so new… I’m moving back to Summit, to that place I left so suddenly some two years ago.

I’m excited. This all happened quickly. It was not planned. But everything just fell into place. Another exciting journey ahead of me.

Thank You, God.