Reclaim 2021

Our church, Victory Baliwag, celebrated its 10th Year Anniversary last December 19, 2020. We celebrated it with the theme RECLAIM. 

It is from Obadiah 1:17, in the New Living Translation, “But Jerusalem will become a refuge for those who escape; it will be a holy place. And the people of Israel will come back to reclaim their inheritance." 

We felt that it was such an appropriate theme or message because of all of the things that we have lost last 2020.

Many of us have lost businesses, jobs, opportunities, plans, homes and worst of all, health and loved ones. We felt that it was just appropriate that we reclaim of all these things this year. We envisioned an empowered people reclaiming all of these.

However during our anniversary celebration, our pastor reminded us that the things that God has given to us can never be take away from us. 

This made me ponder about this for a long time. How is it possible that we have lost so many things if the good things in our lives can never be taken away from us? 

Reading through Genesis and I realized that even as early as in the Garden of Eden, we as humans have then tendency to EXCHANGE or GIVE AWAY what God has in store for us. 

Take Adam and Eve for example, they have exchanged living in the very presence of God for a bite of a fruit when there could have been thousands of other fruit trees surrounding them. 

Then there's Esau, who exchanged his birthright for a meal.

Another example is Samson. He was very gifted and talented, and God's presence and favor was with him. Yet he exchanged this for one wrong relationship after another.

We also see King David, the man after God's very heart. His desire was to build God a temple that would bring glory to Him. Sadly, on a spring day, when he was supposed to be out in the battle field, David exchanged this for an indiscretion with a married woman. 

Then there's the infamous Judas Iscariot. For three years, he had front row seats to Jesus' miracles. He had learned from the greatest teacher. He had a relationship with Jesus Christ Himself. But he exchange all of this, sadly including his life, for 30 pieces of silver. 

These are just some of the examples of people in the bible exchanging God's goodness and blessings for temporary pleasures of this world. Some, like King David and Esau, God has managed to turn things around and redeem their stories. Others, had a not so great endings. One thing is for certain, God has good thing in store for us and we are the ones who keep exchanging it for the temporary things of this world. 

How about us? What are the things that we are reclaiming this 2021? What have we exchanged them for in the past? 

As we reclaim them, let's be mindful of what things we have exchanged for them in the past so that we may not make the same mistakes again. 

Let's be reminded that God's goodness are better than any of the things this world has to offer. 

Photo Gallery Scavenger Hunt

Hello everyone! I am starting to include games and activities in this blog that I find helpful. :)

Name of the Game: Photo Scavenger Hunt

Materials Needed: Smart Phones

Players: 3 - 10

Photo Not Mine

This is better done in a small group setting where everyone will be able to see what each other is doing.

Instructions:
1. Have everyone bring out their mobile phones and bring up their photo gallery (no searching on their social media accounts or the internet, the pictures should be saved in their gallery)

2. Ask them to bring out the pictures you are asking for and to show it to all.

3. Your points system can vary according to the rarity of the pictures. :)

Suggested photos to hunt for:
Family Picture (complete family)
OOTD (Outfit of the Day)
Selfie
Vacation Picture
Pictures of animals/pets
Picture with Best Friend
Picture of their Birthday celebration

You may add more pictures to hunt for according to your needs :)

Happy Hunting

My Prayer For You, Future Philippine President

It is only a couple of hours until the Philippine National Election and everyone is one the edge. Some are feeling giddy and excited while others are nervous and frantic. Political rallies are happening left and right and so are the bashing and political sabotage.

But this is not a blog of who to vote or who not to vote. Instead, I hope that as you read this blog, you will join me in prayer for our future president, whoever he or she may be.

Photo from the Commissions on Elections or COMELEC

Dear Lord, thank you for your unending love and grace.
Now that election day is near, give us wisdom and guidance to choose the leaders that will lead us and protect us Lord.

Lord we pray for our future president that he/she may have the blessing of Abraham and that whoever blesses him/her will be blessed.

Lord we pray for that he/she may have the conviction of Joseph and he/she may flee from the temptations of this world. We pray that like Joseph, he/she will find favor in the eyes of leaders of other nations and countries.

Lord we pray that he/she would have the courage of Daniel and that like Daniel, he/she will stand for what is right, even in the midst of persecution and threat for his/her life.

Lord we pray that he/she will have the heart of David and that he/she will sing praises to in the midst of victories and defeats. Like David Lord, we pray that he/s
he will be surrounded by Nathans who will speak life and truth to them and the he/she will respond with humility and repentance when they have done something they shouldn't have.

Lord we pray that he/she will have the wisdom of Solomon to guide this country prosperity.

Lord we pray that he/she will have the passion of Paul. We pray that like Paul, you will give him/her a Damascus moment where you will meet him/her and that he/she will never be the same again. We pray that like Paul, he/she will use his/her position to further Your gospel even to the ends of the Earth.

And lastly, we pray that he/she will have the obedience and the character of Jesus. We pray that like Jesus who was willing to lay His life down for the church, we pray that our future president will be willing to sacrifice everything for the people of the Philippines.

We also pray for a safe, calm, and honest election Lord.

In Jesus' Name, Amen....

Lessons from the Championship Game

Last Friday, at 2:30 PM, our school, the Montessori De Sagrada Familia (MDSF), faced Notre Christi Academy of Philippines (NCAP) at the championship game of the 2015 BulPriSA (Bulacan Private Schools Association).

Now, I'm not really a sports fan. I'm really not. I don't like watching sports and I don't like participating in sports but I really enjoyed watching the game. It was intense and everyone was either standing up or gripping the edge of their seats from excitement. They had three overtimes before they ended up with the score 91-93 in favor of our school. But what really struck me is that in the midst of the shouting people and the even louder sound of my thudding heart, I was able to learn something wonderfully unique from God.

1. Everyone wants you to do well, but only few asks you how you feel.

As the game intensified, people repeatedly shouted for their favorite player to shoot or to do well and to be frank, I was one of them. But I think some players become more and more pressured and they get easily irritated by both themselves or others when they don't do well. I guess, in the midst of severe pressure, it helps to have someone who asks how you are no matter how well or how bad you are doing. After all, we are more than what we do or how we perform…

2. Pride has no place in a team.

The Sagradan Knights and their coaches after the big game. 

Being part of a team, whether you are in sports, in school, or in your profession is a great thing. But the greatest problem in being part of a team is PRIDE. Pride should have no place in a team. If you have pride, you get INSECURE and you start comparing yourself to others. Is he scoring more points than you? Is he being acknowledged more? Does he have more fans than you???

Pride causes us to puff up our chest and prove to everyone that we are better.

But in a team, you win as a team, you lose as a team. They say there is no I team, I say there is because a team is made up of individual I's that makes it successful. But that I should have let go of selfish pride and work together with the team.

3. It's not just the team who has to be a good sport the audience need to be taught how to be good sports too.

As the game intensifies, I felt the pressure not just for the players to perform better, but also for the audience to scream or shout louder. The passion of the audience increases, so does their tendency to use profanity (hey it rhymes!). There is also the tendency to boo the other teams when they perform well… It's all good fun and all but sometimes it escalates. Although I didn't see it at last week's game, but the audience need to be taught how to be good sports too both during and after the game.

2014 Highlights (Because FB highlights doesn't have enough space hahaha....)

2014 is drawing to a close and I find that I didn't have enough time to blog, and enough time to be thankful....

But I am now shaking off my grouchiness and fixing my eyes on how He has been faithful to me with me this year....

Here's my 2014 highlights!

Spiritual Gifts Equip +

One of the greatest gifts of this year is self-discovery. So blessed to learn my top 5 spiritual gifts and my top 5 strengths for this year!

Thorie's Victory Weekend

Victory Weekends are always a blast. But it becomes extra special when God gives you the opportunity to guide someone AWESOME to it. Thankful for this lady and to see how God works in her life. Excited for new 121's and Victory Weekend participants to come.

2014 Volunteer Sunday

Every year, it is a privilege to serve God in His work in the church. Being friends with the other ministry volunteer becomes a plus as we help one another to Honor God and Make Disciples.

JS Prom 2014

Who would have thought that I (At the age of 20 or so hahaha) would experience Prom again? Granted it is not the same as when I was in highschool (what is right?) but the experience was awesome. Truly a night to remember! Soar High Sagradans! 

Baler Beach

One of the truly spectacular highlights of this year is to witness His Glory in Baler. I admit I'm not an adventure girl and most of my vacations are staycations so this trip makes a huge impact on my 2014. So now I'm praying for more travels, more fun-filled, God-planned experiences that open my eyes to truly how wonderful He is.  

Excess Luggage 2.0 

Who would have thought our "little play" that we made for Baliuag last year made its Bulacan debut this year. It is truly amazing to see how God gifted and molded these young people with not just talents but serious skills as well. Sure there were rough patches, but every experience becomes worth it when you're with people who truly love God.

Leaders Camp 2014

And of course, who can forget this momentous 3-days of our CL Leaders camp. I even made a blog just dedicated for it. Again, an eye opener in a more spiritual manner. I did not just meet people and friends from Central Luzon, but I met God, and had a vacation with Him, for 3 wonderful days!

VG at MCDO SM Baliuag

And this, this is truly EPIC. First VG with my co-teachers. Super laughs, super trips, super laugh trips. Thank you for the friendships. Next year may spell out G-O-O-D-B-Y-E but real friends never really leave, they just let miss them for a while right? No tears yet but fingers not crossed but together in prayer that He may grant you the desires of your heart and that He may honor your desire to be a blessing to your family....

BIG DEAL SERIES 

BIG DEAL November series when these wonderful friends invaded us for 3-weeks straight. We learned a lot didn't we? Can't wait for more services, more VG's and more laugh trips with you!

Singles' Core Meeting

Never really thought that I would be joining the Singles' Ministry, but this year I did (can't deny I'm growing older) hahaha.... It is such a blessing that when I did, these faithful men and women were with me..... With all the planning and the executing hours (even when it's storming), we really did grow closer and at the end of the day, that is what really matters. We have such big plans for 2015, but we have a BIG GOD who is with us. We may decrease in 2015 (as some of us will be married! In Jesus' Name!) but I believe true friendship never fades! Thank you for making this ministry fun and memorable!

Appreciation Night 2014

Dec. 13, 2014. Truly a night to remember and be grateful for. Thank you Lord for this amazing ladies, these amazing volunteers, this amazing night. Nothing can replace the love and the joy I felt that night.

Pre-school Teachers SY2014-2015

Thank you God for these amazing workmates. Had a great Christmas party with these teachers. Even if I only did win 20 pesos (hahaha) I still had the best time. 

Thankful to God for these always gorgeous, always loving, always crazy ladies! Thank you that they are not just workmates, but friends, mentors and most specially, family!

2014 Last YOuth Service 

As far as top experiences go, this one goes way up there. Great games, great food, great people, great leaders, great God all came together for a truly epic night. And I'm so excited to see how God will grow these young leaders and how they will influence this town and this nation. 

This year, something unfortunate did happen. But God did use it to draw my family closer together and to remind me that my family is my first and foremost ministry.














And last but certainly not the least, I'm so grateful to be part of this ministry, this church, this spiritual family. There were difficult adjustments but when God is for you, who can stand against?

So thank you, thank you for being part of my year. Whether you were in the pictures or not, one way or another, you made my year! Thank you! 

Thank you God. I'm in awe of my 2014, how much more epic is my 2015 going to be? 

How about you? What was the best part of your 2014? 

Let the School Year Begin!

Thank you Lord for another year to mold minds and shape hearts. 

Thank you Lord for another year to teach. 

word wall painting by one of my co-teachers

Thank you Lord for all the inspirations to do these and more. You are truly a creative God and though I may never match your brilliance, I thank you for giving me the patience to try. 

Thank you for my school, Montessori De Sagrada Familia and its administrators whose support embolden us to give our best. 

Thank you for the best workmates, the MDSF Pre-school Dept whose unwavering support is unparalleled.

library area

Thank you for our parents for entrusting their little children to us and for partnering with us giving the best education for their children... 

Thank you Lord for the children you have entrusted to my care for their lives are irreplaceable. 

Thank you for reminding me that you have not only entrusted me with their learning, but with their lives and souls as well.

first ever writing center 

Thank you Lord because they may be tough and tiring things ahead, but Your Spirit and wisdom has gone ahead and made everything perfect in its own time.

Remind me Lord to seek you in all things and in everyday routines because through you the ordinary becomes extraordinary...

Let no works of the enemy such as laziness and other hazards prosper against me, my family, my school, my students, and my church.... 

snap shot wall waiting for our picture perfect memories to be posted here

Excited for this school year! Let it begin! 

No Such Thing

Our life revolves in seasons not stages. And in every season of our life, there are things taught to us, things given by us, and things we have to let go of. Because of this, we see things in our lives are not constant.

But there is one person in our life that is constant, and that is God himself. With that, I realized that there is NO SUCH THING as a season of independence of God. That is one thing that God will never put us through, a season where He is not there...

Yes there may be seasons that we may not feel Him, or we may even feel that he is not there. But like a child learning to walk, God must sometimes let go of our hand to let us walk on our own. But as our heavenly Father, he is always waiting at the wings, waiting to catch us.

So if you feel right now that you are alone, YOU ARE NOT. God is never that far away. In fact, He is just waiting to become more dependent on Him.

Rather as a sign of weakness, we are at our strongest when we learn to bow down and rely on Him... Because there is no such thing as a season of independence from God.