God’s Power In My Life

Greetings in the name of the Lord friends! I missed updating my blog.. How are ya’ll?? I just got home from our bible study tonight and God put something in my heart..

"I will praise you, O Lord, with all my heart…for Your love and Your faithfulness…When I called, You answered me, You made me bold and stouthearted…Though I walk in the midst of trouble, You preserve my life…the Lord will fulfill His purpose for me; Your love, O Lord, endures forever…"

There are milestones in a person’s life that birth reflection. It is good to meditate now and then upon those things and events that have shaped who you are. To ponder the veritable depths of your soul and be filled with wonder at the journey that has led you to where you are. Today is such a day.

What great cultural shift causes us to be so shy about something as common to all as birthdays? There was a time when a "hoary head" was seen as a crown of glory. The events of the past many months have shed new light on the gift of being another year older–yea, another decade older–and for this precious and wondrous gift, I thank the Lord. So, with a bold and stout heart, yeah, I will be 27 next month, with joy and gratitude.

As this anniversary approaches next month and my birthday too, I have been reflecting upon the riches of God and how tremendously generous and kind He is to His children…to this child MELODY. The gifts of the Lord come in many forms–some of them are tiny packages, so small or "common" that we often take them for granted. Some of them are mysterious and cause us to wonder. Some of them lift our souls unto heights of joy and delight, and are so huge they take our breath away. Some of them break our hearts. Yes, those are precious gifts too.

I  have been meditating this week on the verse in James that instructs us to "Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything."

Perhaps most of us have heard many sermons on what it means to consider it joy when we face trials in our lives. With varying degrees of understanding, we have known the wonder of good things coming from difficult circumstances. Sometimes, though, we think that those difficult times are random and unconnected–each of them standing alone as a lesson or a time of stretching. It may seem as though our lives have meandered this way and that on a crooked path of events without direction or purpose.

What an amazing thing it is for us to look behind us and discover that our journey has been a straight path the whole time.

The past 3 years have been so very special to me. It has been a time of joy and peace and wonder. Every moment has been precious and it has been such a blessing to feel God’s hand in ME, guiding and comforting and encouraging me. He has truly been my ever present help in time of need and in time of plenty.

In my meditation, I have discovered that each and every trial in our lives has been a gift. Those deep, painful times of stretching and pruning have not been pleasant. They try the soul and tears were heavy upon our pillows. But each exercise of my heart and spirit gave me two great blessings–one of seeing myself helpless, and the other of seeing Him faithful.

It has been a wonder and joy during this journey to find myself in a place of peace. To be able to look up at our Father like a small child with wide eyes and trust. To find Him faithful. Since I was a child, Ive been asking myself.. (Bakit may taong mayaman, may mahirap.. May maputi at may maitim.. Bakit di na lang pantay pantay para wala ng nasasaktan.. Bakit pa may mga taong may karamdaman at may mga taong nahihirapan.. )Last May, my mother’s house was hit by a typhoon and God provided us financial needs for her through blessing us friends and using my inlaws to be a blessing.. and most especially for blessing me a wonderful husband that is always there for me and for my family to help them,  God has been using my husband to bless my family… My brother was hit by a car when he was riding at his motor and God protected him.. We thought that he was dead already but God gave him another life.. thanks be to Him… and now, my sister is in the hospital.. she is 43 years old and she is 5 months pregnant and her baby wants to come out and their lives are both in danger because she got a high blood pressure but I still praise the Lord! People might think that I got a perfect life, but the Lord knows my heart… He is my REAL JOY.. He is the reason why i have peace in my heart though I feel lonely sometimes.. But I do trust in Him.. for I know that He has a purpose for everything.. As long as I am able to praise Him and worship Him, I will do the best I can to glorify Him.. Last few weeks ago, I went to the doctor and she said I got a high blood pressure so I have to be very careful.. I thought I was pregnant but tonight when were about to leave in a place where we held the Bible Study I felt something and I am sure I got my period.. I was hoping that I am pregnant and in fact I will have my blood test by next week to see if I am pregnant but I got the result tonight.. that it was not a baby but a heavy flow period.. But as I have it, I cried to the Lord and told Him that I still parise Him because its not the end.. I am sure that God planned everything for me and for the baby that I will or babies that I will have.. God is great! God is good! He is awesome!

What joy and what gratitude fill my heart for each and every trial and heartbreak that prepared me for this journey of life. What a blessing to look back at the straight path and find those trials friends.

Finding more power than I’d ever dreamed would probably be the best description of these past 3 years.  Since I met the Lord and accepted Him with all my heart and giving Him my life, He did not stop blessing me.. The Lord has been so sufficient for all of my needs in trials past–He is always there. What a joy to find Him there, more powerful still, even at such a time as this.

"Consider it pure joy," my dear ones.. Oh, my dear friends! When hard things come our way, we never know what the Lord is exercising our spiritual muscles for. He is preparing us to know Him, to trust Him, to find Him faithful. Then, when a dark day comes to us, we can look up with unbridled trust, wide-eyed, as a little child, into eyes of Love, finding our hand already in His.

May we consider those trials friends, and thank the Lord for them and for His unwavering faithfulness; bearing our infirmities in quiet dignity and confidence in the One who can be trusted.

"Be still and know that I am God." Psalm 46:10a

On this anniversary of life and marriage, I am grateful that God is able to calm the waves of the storm–even the storm of problems in my family in the Philippines. I am filled with joy for the trials that have taught me to look up. I am grateful for the peace that passes understanding. 

Birthdays will never be the same again. If I am blessed with the gift of more of them, I will never again be shy of the number or bemoan a hoary head. They will be opportunities to praise the Lord with all of my heart for His love and faithfulness; to be grateful that when we call, He answers us; to be thankful that when we walk in the midst of trouble, He preserves our lives; to be bold and stouthearted; to be humble and thankful that He is sovereign and can be trusted; and to sing of His love which endures forever.

Oppsss, let me share you the song of my heart tonight: (I sang this song to some of my friends and they had it in their voicemail that had trials in their lives.. Friends, hope that you like it though Im not a good singer.. I love the message so much..

Ako’y magtitiwala sa Iyo
Kalakasan ko’y nanggagaling  sa Iyo
Ako’y magtitiwala sa Iyo
Salita Mo ang tanging sandigan ko.

Kahit anumang panahon
Mabigat man ang maging sitwasyon
Ikaw lamang ang Sandigan
Panginoong Hesus

Pag-ibig mo ay sapat
Awa Mo’y para sa lahat
Kahit ako’y magkulang
Salita Mo ang tanging Sandigan Ko.

ASK GOD TO DWELL IN YOUR HEART!

Love In Christ,

~Sis MeLoDy~
"not I, but Christ"

Galatians 2:20

LAYER ONE:
Name: Melody 
Birthday: October 11
Current Location: US
Eye Color: brown
Hair Color: dark dark black
Righty or Lefty: Righty
Zodiac Sign: Libra

LAYER TWO: ON THE INSIDE
Your heritage: Pinay pero mukhang bombay po hehehe
Your fears: wahhhhhhhhhhh, worms
Your perfect pizza: Supreme po
Goal for future: To be used by God for His Highest Glory

LAYER THREE: YESTERDAY, TODAY,
TOMORROW:
Your thoughts first waking up: How I will glorify the Lord in my life
Your best physical feature: My smile (",
Your bedtime: 2am
Your most missed memory: The moment with my Inay and my life in Taiwan with my Precious Annie praising the Lord together after work

LAYER FOUR: YOUR PICK:
Pepsi or Coke: pareho po
McDonald’s or Burger King: ay wala po sa dalawa, Wendy’s
Single or group dates: Group
Adidas or Nike: ay wala po ako hilig jan eh
Lipton Tea or Nestea: Nestea
Chocolate or Vanilla: Chocolate
Cappuccino or Coffee: ayaw ko po pareho, di ako umiinom nyan..

LAYER FIVE: DO YOU?
Take a shower: Opo, 3 times a day
Have a crush: Oh yeah, my sweetheart’s bestfriend ..i love his spirit so much.. Pastor Harry Davis (pic with him) yan po ay hindi lihim alam po ng nakararami…
Believe in yourself: I am nothing without God.. and I can do all things through Him.. Amen!

LAYER SIX: IN THE PAST MONTH
Drank alcohol: ay kahit isang beses po ay di ko naranasan
Gone to the mall: kahapon po (Saturday)
Been on stage: ay maraming beses po
Eaten Sushi: ay hindi po
Been dumped: ay hindi po ako po ang nang iwan at ipinagpalit ko sya sa lesbian kahit ikakasal na kami
Gone skating: opo
Dyed your hair: ay gusto ko sana paitiman pa hair ko kaso ayaw ng beautician kasi masisira daw po kasi maitim na hair ko..weird ko ano po?

LAYER SEVEN: HAVE YOU EVER:
Played a stripping game: ay hindi po
Gotten beaten up: opo, maraming beses nung ako po ay sumama sa lesbian lagi nya po ako sinasaktan..huhuhu
Changed who you were to fit in:  I did not change by myself but God changed me…. and transformed me.. Glory to Him!

LAYER EIGHT: IN A GIRL/GUY
Best eye color: blue eyes
natural eye colour: green like my sweetheart Rance
Best hair color: black
Short or long hair: long po sa babae at sa lalaki po ay clean cut..

LAYER NINE:TIME
1 MINUTE AGO: ay nakaupo ako sa lap ng sweetheart ko
1 HOUR AGO: Reading my Bible
1 DAY AGO: gone to a Bible study and after that went shopping with my inlaws.. ayaw ko magshopping sakit sa paa..huhuhu
1 year ago: Was in school

LAYER TEN: FINISH THE SENTENCE:
I LOVE: Jesus Christ
I FEEL: blessed!
I HATE: worms, wahhh
I HIDE: my ears because i dont want somebody to touch them… may kiliti po ako.. ask Rance and my friends..hehehe
I NEED: to have my serious diet!

ASK GOD TO DWELL IN YOUR HEART!

Love In Christ,

~Sis MeLoDy~
"not I, but Christ"

Galatians 2:20

Greetings in the name of the Lord friends! The joy of the Lord be upon ya’ll always and be with me and with my whole family, friends, relatives and whole the Earth! God is so amazing.. He is a perfect God.. I thank Him for giving me everything.. For giving me a wonderful family, friends, toothpaste, toothbrush, every single thing i have and even trials for it happens for a God’s purpose.. And most of all for sending Jesus unto my life.. He is the reason of everything..  Friends, my life is full of joy.. Sometimes malungkot kasi I do missed my family, and (last week i was able to see my inay and my nieces and nephews on webcam after almost two years of my stay here in the US.. Thanks God for using technology to reach our loveones)and I really want to have a baby.. But God is really amazing.. I know na di ko pa man naiisilang ang aking magiging anak, alam na Nya ang mga plano Nya sa batang iapapanganak ko.. Tulad ng buhay ng bawat isa sa atin alam na Nya kung ano ang palno Nya sa atin nasa sinapupunan pa man tayo ng ating mga ina.. At mga kaibigan, alam nyo punong puno ng saya ang buhay natin kung tayo ay nasa Kanya.. May mga pagkakataon na marami akong tinatanong sa Kanya, bakit ganun, bakit ganyan? But I dont have the right to ask Him.. I can only pray and He said in His words that He is God.. A Creator of everything, there is no such thing that is impossible for Him..

Last week, I had my sleep over with my friend’s house and that was the very first time that I slept with somebody’s house without my husband since we got married.. He went to a conference and instead of sleeping with my inlaws house i slept with my friends house and that was so great.. I asked my parents in law if I am a bad wife coz I slept there instead of sleeping at their house.. Hehehe, di sila sanay.. since I got married di pa po ako nakakaalis ng di kami magkasama ng asawa ko, kung may mga bible study at kahit maggrocery magkasama kami palagi.. He is really a great husband.. Thanks be to God for that.. My friend Bing has two kids, Stacy(eldest daughter and Seth youngest son).. They are really nice.. I do admire Bing the way she raises her kids.. She is really a great mother..Her husband works offshore so she has to do it by herself..  They are so sweet.. The first night, we slept at Stacy’s room.. I was in the middle of them.. nakakatuwa sila.. the second night was there at Seth’s room and I was in the middle of them too.. They are so lovely.. When they saw me, they said, "I missed you Auntie" and they kissed me..  Oh it touched my heart so much..  In    fact they wanted to have their sleep over here at our house but instead i was the one who slept there because they are studying and its kind of far from our place.. They can only do that on weekends.. I enjoyed my sleep over there so much.. Lord, bless them..And also last week, nagkikita uli kami ng iba ko pang kaibigan at kumain ng filipino food.. Gustong gusto ko ng crabs.. yummy!  

September 9 was my inlaws 45th year anniversary.. Wow! Thanks God! I do love them both and they loved me so much too.. I am so blessed that I got married with Rance and having them as my inlaws was really a great blessing! Kumain kami together and when my sweetheart was praying, I cant helped myself but praise God for blessing me so much.. I came from a poor broken family but God is so Wonderful.. And He is really my great Daddy.. My earthly father left us but God never ever left me… will never ever leave me.. He blessed me with great inlaws and husband.. Mom and Dad told me that the secret of a succesful marriage is putting the LORD AT THE CENTER.. I admired them so much, eventhough that they are americans di sila naniniwala sa divorce.. Lagi nilang sinasabi sa akin na ang pinakamabuting gawin kapag di nagkakaunawaan ang magasawa ay bigyan ng space ang isat isa, magpray, at pagusapan ang lahat at huwag hahayaang malubugan ng araw na di magkaunawaan..  Yan ang sekreto ng pagsasasama nila.. And nakakatuwa silang pagmasdan, I am so proud of them for their marriage is really a great example to everybody kasi may takot at pagmamahal sila sa Panginoong Diyos.. Glory to God!

Last Sunday, ang isa po sa mga kaibigan kong amerikana, ay tumanggap sa Panginoon.. Palagi ko sya tinatawagan at palagi ko ibinabahagi ang kabutihan ng Panginoon.. Na walang makakapantay sa kaligayahan na ipagkakaloob ng Diyos kapag tinanggap natin Sya sa buhay natin.. Ibinigay Nya ang buhay nya sa Panginoon noong Sunday at tuwang tuwa ang Panginoon sa paglapit nya sa Kanya.. She was also touched with the video that Pastor Rusty showed.. (Are you ready for His coming??) I do praise God that she accepted the Lord! And thats my prayer for all of my friends too.. Hindi lang sa kaibigan ko kundi sa lahat ng tao.. Sa lahat ng nilikha ng Panginoon na kilalanin Sya.. Its not about our religion but our true relationship with Him.. and Sunday night, we had our bible study.. Wow praise the Lord! Those filipina friends that I called and invited to come were able able to go there.. Thanks God! We had a glorious Bible study and we studied about having Jesus in our lives.. Whats new if we will have Him.. We will have a new hope.. new feelings, new purpose and directions in life, new destiny and we will have a thirsty heart for God’s words.. Friends, if we will just allow Him to manifest in our lives, we will find contentment in Him.. I do fail Him sometimes or most of the time, but praise God that He is just and faithful to forgive my sins..

Friends, I am so thankful that God called me and changed me.. Di ko alam kung asan ako now kung di ko Sya nakilala.. Marming bagay akong nais pang malaman, yung mas makilala ko pa Sya ng malalim.. Marami akong tanong sa Kanya.. Friends, ang blood pressure ko po ay 120 over 100.. May mga issue na noon pa mang nasa pinas ako na kaya di ako nakapunta sa Korea dahil sa high blood pressure ko, palaging mataas ang blood pressure ko at kahapon kaya di ako nakuhaan ng blood test for pregnancy dahil mataas na naman ang dugo ko, natatakot ako sa karayom.. wahhhh.. But I know God is God.. He has always a purpose for everything.. He is the Lord of lords, King of kings and anuman ang mga darating na mangyayari sa buhay ko, Sya lamang ang nakakaalam.. Hindi Nya ako iiwan o pababayan.. He is a TRUE GOD! Amazing Lord! Prince of Peace! My Lord and Savior! Mahirap mabuhay sa mundong ginagalawan natin.. Subalit ang Panginoon ay Diyos na Makapangyarihan at puno ng pangako sa ating mga buhay.. Tunay na Sya ay Dakila at Banal.. And kahapon before we went to a bible study, natwist po ang kaliwa kong paa, di po ako gaano makalakad now pero God is great! I am so thankful na alam ko na sa bawat galaw ko gusto Nya na maging Sya ang sentro ng buhay ko.. Sige po aking mga mahal na kaibigan,  at kami po ay magdidinner with my inlaws after i finish my blog..

My prayers today:

Lord, show me what You want me to do to be a blessing to others.. I dont want to get so wrapped up in my own life that I dont see the opportunity for ministering Your life to those around me.. Show me what You want me to do and enable me to do it.. Give me all I need to minister life, hope, help and healing to those who are broken hearted.. Make me to be one of Your faithful intercessors, and teach me how to pray in power.. Help me to make a big difference in the world beacuse You are working through me to touch lives for Your glory.. May my greatest treasure always be in serving You.. Lord bless every readers of my blog and give them the desire of their hearts.. Be with them in Jesus Name I pray.. Amen.

ASK GOD TO DWELL IN YOUR HEART!

Love In Christ,

~Sis MeLoDy~
"not I, but Christ"

Galatians 2:20

Greetings in the name of the Lord! How are ya’ll? Nais ko pong iparating sa lahat ng aking mambabasa tungkol sa di ko pagbubuntis na di na po ako malungkot, tunay na dakila ang Panginoon.. Sinabi Nya sa Kanyang salita sa John 15:7 na " If you remain in Me and my Words remain in you, ask whatever you wish and it will be given to you".. (Salamat po Panginoon at panghahawakan ko ang Salita Mo Oh Diyos…. Anuman po ang nais Mo sa buhay ko ay nawang ang kalooban Mo lang ang Syang maghari)..Tunay na Sya ay Dakila.. Hindi nagbabago at mananatiling tapat sa buhay natin..  Sa mga nakaraang araw po ay naging abala lamang ako sa mga gawain ng Panginoon.. Nagkaroon ng baby shower sa bahay ng isa kong kaibigan para sa buntis naming kaibigan, nagpunta kami ni Ledjie sa malll after that at gabi na nakauwi at i had my quality time with my inlaws and my dear husband.. Bumisita ako sa mga bahay ng kaibigan ko, ng lola ni Rance, ng pamangkin ni Rance, at naging abala po ako sa mga bible study.. At pumunta rin po dito sa lugar namin ang buong pamilya ng kaibigan ko, naaliw ang mga bata sa asno(donkey) at naligo sila sa spring water.. Diyan po ako nalilibang kapag ako po ay nahohomesick.. Napakagandang pagmasdan ang mga nilikha ng Panginoon..Tunay na bawat araw sa buhay ko ay isang pagpapala.. May oras na nalulungkot ako dahil naalala ko ang aking Inay, Tatay, mga kamag anak at kapatid at gustong gusto ko po talga magkaanak subalit palaging pinapalitan ng Panginoon ang puso ko ng tunay na sigla at kaligayahan na nagmumula sa Kanya.. Isa sa pagpapala na ibinigay Nya ay natupad ang aking panalangin na bigyan Nya ako ng pagkakataong magamit para magkaroon ng Bible Study sa Slidell at purihin ang Panginoon, ibinigay Nya ang buhay ng magasawang Faith at Brian para magkaroon kami ng Bible study every sunday sa bahay nila.. Dalangin ko na patuloy silang pagpalain ng Panginoon… Sa mga nakaraang araw po ay naging abala ako sa mga bagay na nakapalibot sa akin.. Hindi ko rin po naasikaso ang friendster ko pero salamat sa Panginoon at binuksan Nya ang puso ko upang patuloy na Sya lamang ang aking hanap hanapin.. Sya ang aking buhay…. Hindi man tayo tapat sa Kanya Sya ay mananatiling kasama natin at patuloy na magpapatawad sa mga kasalanan natin.. Kaibigan di ko alam ang nasa puso mo sa mga sandaling ito, marahil ay may dinadala kang pasanin o maaring sa mga sandaling ito ay masaya ka.. Ngunit sa ilalim ng iyong puso, alam ko na may hinahanap ka.. Sya ang kulang sa puwang dyan sa buhay mo.. Hayaan mo lang Sya na pumasok sa puso at hayaang maghari upang sa mga sandaling ito ay magkaroon ng tunay na kaligayahan sa buhay mo at simula sa araw na ito ay magtiwala ka lang at anumang dalangin ng puso mo ay ipagkakaloob Nya ayon sa kagustuhan Nya.. Mahal na mahal ka Nya.. at ganun din ako kung sinumang may mga tao na di malamn ang gagawin, may ISANG TUNAY na kaibigan na kailanman ay di tayo iiwan.. Salamat sa iyong oras aking mahal sa pagbabasa ng aking blog.. Dalangin ko na nawa ay matagpuan mo ang tunay na kaligayahan, hindi natin yun matatagpuan sa mga bagay na nakapalibot  sa atin kundi yun ay ang "tunay na relasyon sa ating Panginoon".. Tanggapin mo Sya at papasukin sa buhay mo at nawa ay Sya ang maghari sa bawat parte ng pagkatao mo.. Sya ang Tunay nating Sandigan.. Pagpalain ka ng Panginoon..

ASK GOD TO DWELL IN YOUR HEART!

Love In Christ,

~Sis MeLoDy~
"not I, but Christ"

Galatians 2:20