Our Church's Christmas Celebration

We celebrated our church's Christmas party last Sunday, December 23rd. We had our service first then after that we had our lunch. Foods were all provided by our church. One of our church members there who is my uncle did the cooking and he donated the rice. He cooked 6 kilos of pork adobo, pinakbet and rice. My brother cooked chicken (sisig) and I made fruit salad with agar-agar. We served apple juice. We had some visitors who came for the first time. Everybody enjoyed the foods.

After lunch we had the singing contest, memory verse contest, parlor games and the exchange gifts. Parlor games were sack race, pinoy henyo, longest line and kalamansi relay. The winners were given prizes. The kids had a blast. Everybody including adults were given chocolates and crackers.

Comfort Shoes

I was cleaning our shoe rack including my shoes this morning and I noticed that I haven't worn most of the shoes I have for quite a while and dust is invading them. Hubby knows that I love buying shoes. I have quite a few collections of shoes already but every time I see shoes with nice design, style and color, I am always tempted to buy. My hubby said that I have more shoes than I can wear. He may be right but what can I do, shoes is one of my weaknesses. In fact I just browsed this site called Schuler shoes where I can buy different styles of comfort shoes online for a reasonable price. Those are the kind of shoes I like because they are flat and comfortable to wear anywhere.

I was also looking at their comfort shoes for men and women history which is dated back in 8,000 B.C. wherein the first shoes were woven. Then as years passed by, the styles of shoes were improved and today we have now those modern running shoes and minimalism. Below is the infographics of the history of athletic shoes. Take time to read and learn history.

Summer Camp

I never attended a summer camp when I was growing up. I only heard good things about summer camp from people who have attended it. I also read some stories and testimonies about summer camps in the past. It sounded like it was fun and I wish I could attend one. The opportunity arose when I was invited by the daughter of our youth pastor to go with them in the summer camp in Oklahoma on the last 2 days of the summer camp for the kids in our church a few years ago. I didn't hesitate to go with them of course. I enjoyed being with the kids and some of the adults as well. It's like I became a kid again, lol!

I would like to attend a traditional coed summer camp one of these days. When hubby and I will be back in the states next year or so, I want to join a summer camp again. The kids and teens in our church attend summer camp yearly. Maybe I will volunteer to be one of the counselors so I can help and at the same time enjoy and be blessed. It was during those summer camps that a lot of kids got saved and gave their lives to the Lord. It's during those camps too where I've seen young boys joined the preaching contest. It was so amazing to see those young boys preaching the word of God. Summer camps played a great part in those kids' lives indeed!

Discovering God's Will

Psalm 119:105-106

Life involves both small daily choices and large consequential ones. Including God in our decision-making is always the wisest course of action. The Scripture that we have memorized is something the Holy Spirit uses to help us discover God’s will.

The pattern I have found beneficial in making decisions can also help you with choices regarding relationships, finances, health, employment, or other important areas. The first step involves assessing the heart, mind, and will. To receive the Lord’s direction, we need a clean heart, a clear mind, and a surrendered will. Sinful habits can cloud thinking and keep us from understanding His plan. Confessing our sins and turning from them brings cleansing and clarity (1 John 1:9). A stubborn will that says, “I want my way” prevents us from heeding God’s instruction. Instead, we need to surrender our desires and commit ourselves to saying yes to His plan.

The second step is to wait patiently on the Lord for His answer. It takes courage to stand firm, especially when others are telling us what they think we should do. Our own emotions may be pushing us to act now, but we must resist moving ahead of God. To be patient means trusting the Lord while we wait to learn His answer and discover His timing.

Discerning God’s plan requires preparation of our heart, mind, and will. It also often requires patience. During our time of waiting, we are to follow His known will—to be a faithful servant in His kingdom, loving Him with our whole heart, and loving our neighbors as ourselves (Matt. 22:37-39).

Life In The Mission Field

Well, we've been in the mission field for almost 4 years now. Hubby and I came here in my homeland to start a ministry for the Lord. It's like it's only been yesterday when we got here. Being missionaries is not that easy. We had to do what the Lord has sent us to do and that is to share the gospel to the lost and win souls to Jesus. Hubby had to give up his job in the states before we came here. I know it's not an easy decision because we came here as missionaries with only our home church who is supporting us. We didn't have time to visit other churches and raise some support. 

Now we just have to trust the Lord to provide our needs. He already provided us a car. We pray that sooner or later we can apply for an affordable health insurance for me and hubby. There's this website that helps individuals and families to find affordable health insurance. It also helps people better understand Obamacare, and helps them to find assistance in their state. I'm pretty sure people would be happy to avail the services of this site, Affordable Health Insurance. We trust the Lord for every thing in our lives. He owns everything in this world and He never failed to meet our needs. We still have foods on the table and a house to live. We try to live a frugal life and spend only for the basic necessities. But right now, we just insure our life to the Lord. Jesus never fails.

Comfy Sheep

It's been two and a half years since hubby bought our pre-loved car. We already spent a lot to replace some of its auto parts and lately we just had it over-hauled. My, it cost us arm and leg to have it fixed! We have no choice but do it since we can't afford to buy a new one. Now, it already runs good, thank God! We can go visit our church members and go soul winning. But wait. I'm planning to buy a seat cover to make our car look better. The seats are already old and some have holes already. I was looking at this site which sells sheepskin seat covers online. Oh my, it looks so comfy! I won't mind sitting in our car for long hours drive if the seat cover is as comfy as those. I will have to tell my hubby about this and show him the photos from their site. I'm pretty sure he would be liking it too.

Their sheepskin rugs look so soft and comfy in the bedroom especially during winter. It would be nice to get up from bed and step into a very soft rug on the floor. It would accentuate not only the bedroom but the living room as well. Its white color looks like a snow on the floor, lol! For sheepskin products, visit comfy sheep and avail of their wide array of sheep skin seat covers and rugs.

Giving Out Gospel Tracts During All Saints' Day

Last November 1st which was a holiday being an All Saints' Day in the Philippines, we set that day to go to the cemetery to give out gospel tracts to the people there. We all know that this is a day wherein people here go to the cemetery to visit their dead kinfolks and offer candles and flowers. This is a good time and opportunity to give out tracts to the people. Six kids from our church went went us and we brought with us 400 gospel tracts printed in Tagalog which we shipped from the states. It was hot in the afternoon but we endured the heat and went to the very crowded cemetery.

At first, the kids were shy but I told them not to bashful and just hand the tracts to the people. They have seen George handed the tracts and the people received it. So they did as I told them and we roamed around the cemetery and handed out the gospel tracts. Some people ignored it, others asked if they have to pay for it but the kids answered it's for free. George passed out most of the tracts and people were willing to receive it. That's the advantage of being an American, huh! Some people whom I handed out the tracts just ignored it. After an hour and a half, we were able to give out all the tracts that we had and we went home tired but happy because we had the chance to hand out to people God's message. I know not all people who received the tracts will get saved but at least we planted seeds in their lives. They had a chance to be confronted with the message of sin, righteousness, judgment and a call to repent and believe in Jesus Christ alone for the salvation of their souls.

Scholarship Grants

College education is very important especially if you want to get a better job. The unemployment rate is so high nowadays but if you have a good qualification like college education and experience, finding a better job is easier. For this reason, more and more people want to pursue a college degree. The only problem is that it takes a lot of money to get a degree in the US.

I was talking to my youngest step-daughter last summer and she told me she wanted to find a better job because she's not happy no more with her present job in a fastfood restaurant. She wanted to enroll in college and become a nurse so she can find a better job in the hospitals that will pay her better wages. Her problem is where to get the money for her tuition fee. I told her why not apply for one of those scholarships that are being offered online. Their web site can help people find active scholarships and education grants to pay for college for eligible students. Scholarship is a free money that does not have to be repaid. There's no need to drive, she just have to go online and browse the different websites that offer scholarship grants. If there's a will, there's a way.

We Were Made To Know God

Deep down, there’s a place within each of us that is made for one thing—a relationship with God. No matter how hard we try to cover it up or fill it with something else, we will never be satisfied. Our hearts will remain restless until they find their home with God. That deep, hidden part of you is there, even if you haven’t realized it until now.

Even though we sin, God doesn’t begrudge us our lives. In His kindness and mercy, He sustains us—blessing us even when we don’t know it—so we can eventually find the way back to Him. But if we don’t seek Him and His ways, or if we choose to reject Him, our spiritual deaths will be permanent. We will live apart from God and His goodness in eternity after we physically die. The Bible tells us that eternal life apart from God is to live in darkness, with no hope, no joy, and no love, forever.

God doesn’t want anyone to experience permanent death (2 Peter 3:9). He loved us so much that He devised a plan to free us from the grasp of sin and provide forgiveness for all time. In the Bible, John 3:16 says, “God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.” Before time began, God has existed in three Persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. There is no division between these three Persons. Though it’s difficult for us to understand, they are one God. Jesus Christ is God’s Son, and He is also God. So when the Bible says, “God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son,” we see that God really gave Himself.

Change Is Good!

Now when Jesus was risen early the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had cast seven devils. Mark 16:9 KJV

The apostle Paul went from throwing Christians into prison to leading non-Christians into the kingdom of God. John Newton went from being a slave trader to being a pastor and hymn-writer. Nicky Cruz went from being a New York City gang member to being a street evangelist for Christ. The late Chuck Colson went from White House "Hatchet Man" to prison evangelist and apologist.

Meeting Christ always results in life-change, but sometimes the change is  radical . Take a woman named Mary, from the Galilee town of Magdala, for example. We know little about her pre-Christian life except that she was possessed by seven demonic spirits, from which Jesus delivered her. We can only assume that being possessed by seven demons created a chaotic life. By comparison, after being freed from them, Mary became a faithful follower of Jesus--attending both His death and resurrection.

Sometimes we don't like change--until we see the changes are for the better! Take a moment to thank God today for the positive changes you've seen in your life since meeting Christ.

The Scriptures were not given to increase our knowledge but to change our lives. - D. L. Moody