180 degrees

          Good Morning, Good Afternoon and Good evening, whatever timezone you are right now. Greetings and welcome again to my blog. It's been a year since I wrote #collegelife. And now, I'm back at it! (not really a come back lol). Anyway, I just wanna share the thing that until now couldn't ever imagine in my entire life that this thing would be one of an instrument used by God for me to know Him more and grow as an individual and a follower of Him.

My 2017 Journal Devotion Note book 

YES!I never have imagined my life doing the very thing that I hate the most! WRITING! But it became the exact opposite!! Let me share to you how I started my everyday journal devotion with God.


         Back in 2016 as my (new) Church, Dwelling Place Global City Church ,which is a Jesus centered Church, taught me 'bout many things for me to grow my faith in Jesus, about devotion and writing down insights from His word and prayer..  Moving on, I’m not going to lie. My very first week, month he he and day one was an utter disappointment. I was tremendously excited to start a journal of my own; however, once I sat down to write, not a single word came out. I had no idea where to begin. I had hit a tremendous barrier: what should I write? And at the same time reading the bible is really a struggle. Yaz! Hashtag# Struggle is real! Bc honestly in my past lifestyle I was really not into reads, especially the bible is out of my comfort zone!!: Ang tamad ko po talaga sa ganyan. But as the times goes by, as our Pastors kept reminding us How important doing a devotion in day to day living. And continue to learn about who God is. There's part of me having a desire to know more about the God who does the impossible to possible, doing miracles and upon hearing testimonies after testimonies about greatness and goodness of our God. (Me too gusto ko din maranasan yun, I wanna get to know more about Jesus). My desire to know Him more kept growing and my heart never stop searching. So asides of listening to prechings and attending in a sunday service, etc. So I dragged myself out of my comfort zone (pag gusto maraming paraan) practice Bible reading and do Journal Devotions.

         God gave us the Bible for these important reasons: to tell us who He is and what He has done for us, and also how we should live our lives. This is why God urged His people to make the Bible part of their lives, for Him to strengthen us spiritually (which really is my desire at the very beginning to strength my faith and etc).

         My very first devotion journal notebook was bought at Papemelroti. Then I upgraded into that brown journal notebook which I used the whole year 2017 bought at National Bookstore. And now 2018 I am using Victoria's Jounals. BTW I used to write it in tagalog before kasi feeling ko mas maeexpress ko yung sarili ko, even my bible that time 2016 I used tagalog translation. (Tapos kung nababasa to ng Leader ko na si ate Sharon ha ha ha nahihiya po talaga ako dati kasi chini-checked niya yung journal ko pero alam ko namang 'di niya binabasa ha ha hiya lang ako)
TAKE NOTE: Hey! It's a No! No! Attitude huh ha ha. Do not please people, that I really learned in the past. Just please God no matter what. (Kahit mali grammar mo kasi it's between you and God naman. Nakaalalay lang ang mga Church leaders just to monitor you not to pressure you but to help you and push you through knowing Him more) But the good thing that I discovered while journal-ling, reading his words everyday sabi ng Lord sakin "Oh mag english ka naman, sanayin mo na" Ha ha ha. So I decided to step in another level, pa konting susyal ha ha joke. BTW, FYI:  I only used New Living Translation, but since I bought my new bible which I am using now, I know use the NIV and NLT versions at the same time.

  

  

My set of pens, bible (New Internanitonal Version)
& my Journal

First page of my Journal notebook

Bible reading format

(Message, Promises, Command,
Warning and Application) 

Last year, 2017 our church's theme for that year was #UncommonFavor (yes it is!!!) We have new devotion pattern: "Bible Reading" cover to cover. Wow!! Ha ha ha. Three Chapters a day? On my own mind,
with all honesty."Sorry but I can't" T_T But of course it was my flesh saying those words not my conviction.
And until my lamang lupa badly needed every words from this book.

          So I thought I would share with you some of the benefits I have found in a daily Quiet Time with God. Just a few minutes at the beginning of my day to read the Bible and pray.

Power/Strength
“He gives power to the weak and strength to the powerless. Even youths will become weak and tired, and young men will fall in exhaustion. But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint.” Isaiah 40:29-31 NLT 

Joy
"You will show me the way of life, granting me the joy of your presence and the pleasures of living with you forever.” Psalms 16:11 NLt

Fulfillment
Spending time alone with Him fulfills the heart like nothing else can. When you spend time with God early, you can check off the #1 most important thing you could do that day..

Direction in life
Spending time with God enables Him to give you direction when you need it. You are giving God a chance to direct your path.

Success
 “Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do.” Joshua 1:8 NLT 

Peace
“Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.”  Philippians 4:7 NLT  

Answered prayer
““Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing. Anyone who does not remain in me is thrown away like a useless branch and withers. Such branches are gathered into a pile to be burned. But if you remain in me and my words remain in you, you may ask for anything you want, and it will be granted!” John 15:5-7 NLT

My advice to a young people, a young professional (like me) or even who is currently reading this--
            Yes at first it so hard to obey God, to abide on Him thru devotions, journal-ling or whatsoever you called it. But God knows your limitations, and He doesn’t condemn you for them or blame you for not doing something you really can’t do! God loves you, and more than anything else He wants you to grow in your love for Him. If you have accepted Christ and committed your life to Him, you’ve already taken the first step in that journey. And if you are unsure of your commitment to Him, take that first step by inviting Him into your heart and life today. Then make it your goal to grow in your relationship with Christ. How do you do that? First, make prayer a part of your life every day. Become part of an active fellowship of believers also, because you need their encouragement and help. Teach me your way, O Lord, and I will walk in your truth” (Psalm 86:11).

God bless!

Stay tuned for my next blog this 2018 :) xo-xo

J E S U S   L O V E S   Y O U  <3

Four Years Journey

Through out life people go through so many hardships. Whether it be good or bad there is always something that comes out of the situation. One of the most exciting but yet scariest events would be graduation. It takes a lot of time and effort to achieve that goal. In the long run, it opens a lot of opportunities for people to succeed. I can almost remember that day like it was yesterday searching for my target college that definitely would hold my future. The place where my four years I have could spend my life in college with. I awoke like on any other school day. It was a gorgeous day since my day one in college started. So many things happened just like a blink of an eye. Home works, quizzes, exams, Case study, Feasibility and many more like any other typical student's struggling. To the point that you feel like giving up bc your probably physically, emotionally and mentally tired. But in the other hand so much lessons what college taught you about life. First, my college taught me how to value money. How to make tipid (wag lang sa turo-turo haha) Secondly, to socialized with any kind of people. Whether it will give you a good influence or not, you should deal with em order to survived haha chos." Thirdly, to study without umaasa sa iba. (Though I am not a perfect student, ha ha TBH I committed sin like a typical students does in times of you know..) But there are so many times that you didn't any have a choice but to believe in your self and trust God for intellectual blessing. Lastly, withithout His Grace I am Nothing!!! Indeed, I know that God has been good to me since then from the days feeling like giving up. Grateful that I accepted him as my personal savior and completely meet him, should've describe as a "sweet serendipity" unexpected by my eyes that I've... I should have say that without him on my entire college life I am totally nothing and I couldn't reach what I am today. Couldn't imagine my self without his presence .... As I looked at myself while combing my hair while preparing for one of the big day of my life, it hit me like a speeding express train, I was about to graduate. I couldn’t help but smile, but at the same time I felt like a part of me was drifting away. A tear came to my eye as I realized what was about to happen to me.. can’t believe I’m almost done with college. I don’t know how to feel about it, and it’s truly overwhelming
I did not graduate with honors nor with any special awards but grant me the permission to thank the people behind this accomplishment:

Ate's:

Ate Jinky (Bangs), kahit ikaw laging nag ta-taray sakin kahit papano na momotivate ako sa pag tataray mo para mapatunayan ko na kaya ko talaga. Thank you din sa pag bibigay pag may tour kami kahit andaming ano hahaha joke. (Salamat sa pa foods at joyride soonest Mrs. && Mr. Aguila haneeep)

 Ate Jaja, misan na gugulat ka bakit hindi mo akong nakikitang nag rereview man lang or nag aaral hahaha. Ewan ko ba, wala eh stock knowledge, syempre patago lang para hindi halata hahahaha. At ikaw yung laging nag titipid para lang may mabigay sakin. Na di niya alam kung bat pa siya may pera dahil alam kong ginamit ka ni Lord para ma-provide mga bayarin ko sa school. Hope this year, medyo makahinga ka na hahaha babawi ako!!

Mama Lorna, I have finally made it. YOU FINALLY MADE IT! Yung promise ko sa'yo na no boyfriend muna hanggang matapos ang College ko. Oh pa'no ba yan alam na haha. This is it! Onting push hahayahay ka na din ma. Super akong humahanga dahil ikaw ang nag silbing nanay tatay sa'min. Kaya super thank you po talaga. And to my ates:

(Special thanks for LTO District office na pinag OJT-han ko na sobrang napakabait at ginawa akong baby sa office thank you po, Ate Danica for sponsoring my classy dress, Friends, Uncles, Aunties, Church mates everyone behind my accomplishment THANKYOU!! GodBlessed you!!! )

And Of course the Loving Lord God, everything begins and ends with you. Thank you so much for this blessing. I owe everything to You. Thank you for Your unceasing love and for the bountiful blessings You shower me and my family everyday. Your love alone suffices, dear Lord. Words will never be enough to show my gratitude for everything You have done. 

Dela Cruz, Ann Loraine Col

Business Administration Major in Marketing Management

All glory and praise to You!

Midnight Restlessness

Late night, March 25 at exactly 11:25 I should be sleeping but, I am so much irritated on everything. I felt so wrath that night. Anything that I have seen was felt so asphyxiated, almost to cry every single minute of the night. Wouldn't know, why I'd let this resentment torment me a lot. I've remember the one guy Fb friend posted his raged thoughts about the girl or boy I guess and he quote "about a gold digger, and stop making parinig to his sister and so on...." And me, feeling hatred and really don't know what things pushed me to comment bellow in his status and why I felt so pissed on that guy, and I commented "Why don't you confront that girl personally, instead of posting some uncertain word or your so called revenge in that way. #justsaying #JejefiedOnFb" after that I've felt so bad, so my head & heart's shouted to delete my comment quickly so that no one could ever see my rude comment. But I was shocked, that my comment failed to send. Is this accidentally happened because of our low internet connection that time, or perchance G's wanted to say something? Had a guilty conscience and it got to raised up to 98% that time. Why I've gotta be so rude in an innocent strange fb friends within my unfathomable temper." Please let the spirit of indignant steal away and I declared peace and Love" (5X)

And after that, I'd felt the presence of the caring & worried dady (G). Why I was so shameless and stubborn even the people around me could ever experienced the bad side of me.
Remembered Jesus said on Mark 12:13 "You shall love your neighbor as your self". There is no other commandment greater than these. Also in Ephesians 4:25-29 "Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to your neighbor, for we are all members of one body. 26“In your anger do not sin”d : Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, 27 and do not give the devil a foothold. 28 Anyone who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with their own hands, that
 they may have something to share with those in need.

....And the moral lesson that I have learned on that kind of situation is to stay calm whatever the situation is, and if that so; do not ever implicate other in consequent person specially if you were in that kind of utterly resentment situation. Always remember that we are not alone. Jesus is with us, always!... (lagi mo tandaan loraine ha! Matthew 28:20)
I have too much lesson to catch up out side the real word, but to think that I am only here at the threshold bound to my pathway. And in hope, all of these shall lead and guide me through the twists and turns, up's and down, even happiness and in sorrow and the day to day living . Life teaches us..... To Live!

"Sometimes the bad things that happen in our lives put us directly on the path to the best things that will ever happen to us" 

.....We have to go through the bad things to get to the good things just remember this!

Ps: Wrote this not to acquire or even to impressed but to share to you what's really inside of me. :)

T O  G O D  B E  T H E  G L O R Y! 

First walk

.....8  ladies, 9 other man contestant, 3 pageant judges,  Lourdesians and all strangers I had just met, the eyes of the world were suddenly upon me. I wonder if they saw how worn out my shoes were. I hope I can too, I thought. However, long before I reached that heart pounding moment, there was the College week when it all began…

​

The compilation/pictures of Mr.& Ms. LLHC 2015

( First day photo shoot with smart casual)

( 2nd day photo shoot with our tribal costume "TAUSOG" )

Pre-Pageant

(PumeFEB-ibig Wednesday night 
February 18, 2015 wearing our Pageant shirt)

...Finally the pageant day was here. Every rehearsal leading up to this, I had been stricken with fear and anxiety, but for some reason it was all gone that day. February 20, 2015

(Summer wear)

(Talent, Mush-up of Stay with me- Sam Smith &
Blankspace by Taylor Swift with Kuya Mark)

(Our Formal Attire with partner #4 The "hakot award" Guy, JR)

( Special Award, the unexpected award for me. Best in Summer Wear)

(Final 5 for girls. contestant #1, #2, #3, #4 me, and #5)

(Question and Answer)

(Awarding and I got the 2nd runner-up 
awarded by Sir Laurence Manaois)

(With 1st Runner up Cheche, and 3rd Runner up Jhen)

With my Fellow lovely Candidates
( Ate Rome, Ate Lei, Raquel my best budd 
in this pageant and Roxanne "Amaya" hehe) 

"I learned before, during and after the pageant is, a beauty queen is not just merely a woman with a beautiful face, but also a woman with a pure heart and big dreams."

....Honestly I am so much scared to enter this kind of competition because what comes in my mind is the pressure of meeting people’s expectations and this was my very first walk/pageant ever. But being a 2nd placer; best in summer wear was enough for me. And there are no exact words can express how deeply thankful and grateful I am right now.

Thank you so much, especially to those people who have been there and supported me all through out this pageant I won't be able to do this all without you guys. How I wish I could thank you all personally so that you would feel that my words are true and sincere. Thank you also to the creator, God almighty, for all the blessings that he has showered upon my life.

TO GOD BE THE GLORY!

Sweet revenge...

    The most painful and hard feeling in the world is when every body looking over your shoulder. Like a small black dot in a white piece of paper, that the first thing that we can only see is the dot one which is in real life is the mistakes you did just once in a period of time. They can easily give their opinion even if they wouldn't know behind the story is all about. For me, it's a nature that people left their criticism quickly on the one who had a mistake even if I see no point in dwelling on what could have been. Likewise they either make it happen or they simply chase a greater opportunity to devastate everything in you but nevertheless they haven't a right to shout it loud into crowds; to 'cause to be sorrowful, distress, getting a low self esteem and totally grieves person who is currently experiencing this kind of utterly depressing situation. Hi! I am just a human like you who is imperfectly living in this earth...          However, no matter how embarrassed and nothing as nothing I am experiencing today. I decided to be quite not just for the sake of my reputation but for us to stay calm. And I remember that God said to me so called the Sweet Revenge --" Love your enemy and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unnjust" -Matthew 5:44-46. That's the things that I have learned from his words. To say sorry even if they are the one's who first says uncertain words to you, and to stay calm though all of your thoughts and hard feelings is about to explode. Ain't going to fall for those empty talks throwing in me and don't want to put myself in trouble anyway. It's better anything left unsaid and lift up these all unto god. That's the most powerful way to do than anything else. Be strong, be brave, do not ever revenged and put it up all the trust on the one who could only Judged to his creations the Father almighty our god! 

To god be all the Glory!

Grateful

Have you ever felt like you’re blaming everything or everybody for unexplained and non-sense things? And felt like the world is looking over your shoulder. You really don’t know how this crap starts, and where this resentment came from. You don’t know why but you feel your patience getting shorter and shorter. And even if your self asking “Why I’m acting like this way though I knew what may the result is” The result that can torture you and perhaps your tranquility too in the future..

How can I conquer all these kind of such a tragic selfish deeds of mine that might cause a pessimistic and miserable life!!?? Can the serenity enter my life continuously so that no one could ever devastate my mood, and calm life either. But how?

This past few days, after the typhoon locally called Glenda. I've noticed that god was so great to me and to my family. As he usually does to everybody, saving the life and givin’ so many times of chances to changed and to give thanks to him. And knowing that I am the one of his called daughter: who’s blessed, have a capabilities to do easily his wills, and a talent that could lift all praises through music. Realizing that, I am such a wasted person. That can’t see any bright. Resulting for hating anything annoyance. And if I had a few things that can ever described my self this past tragic week. “A sinful lady, a stupid sibling a pity one and a non-sense creation by him.

But the good news is, no matter how embarrassed and pathetic I felt ‘bout my situation. He never say it all that to me, he never let me drowned in the place that I have definitely belong to, he wouldn’t let to stay the spirit of sadness and sorrow on my emotional aspect and of course he never separate me from his endless love nor forsake me. Never, ever..

Nevertheless, realized that I am so grateful enough more than I think indeed. More than everything in this sinful flesh of mine and earth. How can I be that I can’t be? How impossible things can be possible? How repentance lead to forgiveness? How small matter can be a big one? How and How and How?

Only him can do things mo POSSIBLE! The perfect! An Omnipotent, Omniscient, Omnipresent father Almighty. 

Even me, you and everything in this world can changed by his own will and saved by grace.

To God be all the Glory!

Paradox

Being a college student, I find myself surrounded by a lot of diversity with classes to take, classmates that are potential friends, and future paths I could take. But among all of the choices and options, I find myself out of place, not in the loop, an outsider to all of my friends and peers. I seem to fit in with my friends and then I don't, I seem to be very good at a particular subject in school then I am not good enough for it. I fit in and I don't, a paradox that has always perplexed me.
I know I am not alone in this, but it feels like very few people I talk to understand my position. And being a student about to set foot into the real world, I am not sure what to do...????

.....But lately, realized that I am the one who should adjust more, not just to show who really I am but to fit in the world that full of realityyy. So may god blessed me with a lot of patience in terms of socialization.. Another lessons learned! He he he

"Something wonderful is 'bout to happen"