Miracle

i know waiting will not last forever
i know faith is a word that eventually substantiates for those who know how to ask
and receive
i know time was not meant to delay or prolong suffering
i know longing is meant to be met by an embrace

i know tears are wiped away in the end
i know promises will be fulfilled if they were given in love
i know hearts soften when watered with mercy tears
i see rain clouds smelling the earth's hunger for water

miracles are not far but are only waiting for the cue of the great Director
a miracle is real even before it happens
and when my heart is filled with faith to the brim, you will be greater than everything that i know. when my hand begins to feel, then i will laugh and cry.

but now, fill me with more of your truth
let me taste the showers of hope purified
faith watering my insufficiency
turning belief into answers
for the God i spoke with, i know, is real

Sound the Alarm

God is still consistent in His reminders. pray for the elections. pray for the Philippines. it had been a pervading word. last year He gave me a dream about the seat of authority in our nation. in the dream, the enemy was on it's way to contend for that seat. but on the other side was the Church of the nation about to be challenged if it will take a stand for the destiny of the Philippines.

days after i had that dream, while praying with two of my friends, God started speaking about how much his heart is grieved by the injustice in our nation, by the chords of poverty and suffering... but at the same time He is saying, "you keep on asking me to come, but have you prepared your hearts and your lives for my arrival?" And the Spirit of God prayed through us that night this prayer, "prepare the way of the Lord! Prepare the way of the Lord!!!"

The burden was heavy, the passion intense, and the sense of urgency alarming... We don't have all the time we want. The clock ticks towards the election dates, and it will not stop ticking. The enemy is in wartime mode, all geared up for battle, positioned to dismantle our weapons of warfare, and busy convincing us that it's okay to take it easy for just one more day. But how about us? Are we still in wartime mentality? Are we still desperate for God's throne to be established over our nation...? Are we still seriously contending for the answers to our prayers? This is the best time to seize the destiny of our nation. Much have been prophesied and much have been released. But are we doing our part as contenders? laying siege the enemy's camp? Or are we bargaining with God every time He comes to stir up our spirit to go deeper into intercession in Spirit and in truth? Are we always bargaining for a little more siesta... time to satisfy our whims... time to set aside the cry for justice one more day because we're too blessed and comfy in our air conditioned offices?

I am preaching to myself as well. I am not trying to boast of my vigilance and dedication. But I am simply sharing the very words of rebuke God gave us during our little meetings. We have been wrestling for our nation's destiny for years. Now God has given us the signal that we have entered a season that places our nation's future on a balance. how are we going to respond?

"You know I love you Philippines. I want you to pray, the next two years, the Lord is showing me, are going to be extremely significant for the Philippines. You're kind of on the cusp of re-civilization, I want to say that, either you're gonna go into greatness, it's going to transform the nation, or I see that there's gonna be some troubled times. So PRAY, PRAY, PRAY! I know you're already praying, but this is the time God is gonna pull down the SPIRIT OF CORRUPTION, and God is going to release the Spirit of truth and righteousness into this nation, because 'Righteousness exalts a nation." (Cindy Jacobs prophetic word, August 2008)

JOEL 2

Blow the trumpet in Zion;
sound the alarm on my holy hill.
Let all who live in the land tremble,
for the day of the LORD is coming.
It is close at hand-

² a day of darkness and gloom,
a day of clouds and blackness.
Like dawn spreading across the mountains
a large and mighty army comes,
such as never was of old
nor ever will be in ages to come.

³ Before them fire devours,
behind them a flame blazes.
Before them the land is like the garden of Eden,
behind them, a desert waste—
nothing escapes them.

⁴ They have the appearance of horses;
they gallop along like cavalry.

⁵ With a noise like that of chariots
they leap over the mountaintops,
like a crackling fire consuming stubble,
like a mighty army drawn up for battle.

⁶ At the sight of them, nations are in anguish;
every face turns pale.

⁷ They charge like warriors;
they scale walls like soldiers.
They all march in line,
not swerving from their course.

⁸ They do not jostle each other;
each marches straight ahead.
They plunge through defenses
without breaking ranks.

⁹ They rush upon the city;
they run along the wall.
They climb into the houses;
like thieves they enter through the windows.

¹⁰ Before them the earth shakes,
the sky trembles,
the sun and moon are darkened,
and the stars no longer shine.

¹¹ The LORD thunders
at the head of his army;
his forces are beyond number,
and mighty are those who obey his command.
The day of the LORD is great;
it is dreadful.
Who can endure it?

Rend Your Heart

¹² "Even now," declares the LORD,
"return to me with all your heart,
with fasting and weeping and mourning."

¹³ Rend your heart
and not your garments.
Return to the LORD your God,
for he is gracious and compassionate,
slow to anger and abounding in love,
and he relents from sending calamity.

¹⁴ Who knows? He may turn and have pity
and leave behind a blessing—
grain offerings and drink offerings
for the LORD your God.

¹⁵ Blow the trumpet in Zion,
declare a holy fast,
call a sacred assembly.

¹⁶ Gather the people,
consecrate the assembly;
bring together the elders,
gather the children,
those nursing at the breast.
Let the bridegroom leave his room
and the bride her chamber.

¹⁷ Let the priests, who minister before the LORD,
weep between the temple porch and the altar.
Let them say, "Spare your people, O LORD.
Do not make your inheritance an object of scorn,
a byword among the nations.
Why should they say among the peoples,
'Where is their God?' "

sawasdee!

Hi everyone! I'd like to give y'all the opportunity to consider sending Thai and Lao youth to the Youth Camp we're holding in Thailand this coming April 20-24. Our team of 12 is leaving on Apr18. (btw, the youth camp is only one part of the 3-week missions outreach we'll be having in thailand. til may 9)

***if you think you're not called to give financially or if you've already given, please consider this an update nalang of what i'm currently busy with. =P Guys, no pressure ah... like i said, i just want to give you the opportunity...

If you've heard about the condition of the churches and families there from last year's short-term missionaries, you'd understand ;-) They were actually moved to give from their own pockets and backpacks. This is also one reason why our team is raising finances not just to cover our personal expenses there but also to have something to give to them. :)

Here's a breakdown of the expenses for the young people's camp fee for those who want to sponsor:

10,000 Baht [US$ 283.00] - food sponsorship for the youth camp
5,230 Baht [US$ 148.00] - sponsorship for the 4 Thai youth (transpo, food & lodging)
900 Baht [US$ 25.00] - sponsorship for 1 Lao youth (i think we can sponsor as many as 15 young ppl)

if necessary, I can furnish you a letter from our foundation if you're interested in supporting. If you'd like to get a receipt, i think i can also inquire if that would be possible. when we get to Thailand, we'll be working with a different foundation that we've affiliated with particularly for this trip.

UPDATE ON RUMMAGE SALE: our first rummage sale became like a dry run. (kaunti lang kc ung tao sa liblib na lokasyon namin!) we were able to raise a bit (approx 1k pesos). you may still support our next rummage sale by sending your donations (clothes, bags, shoes, trinkets, etc.) to us before thursday this week! pls. contact me:

Let's reach out beyond our comfort zones. I pray God touches your heart to give to the youth of the nations!

richest blessings to everyone!

riz

P.S. we can arrange bank deposit for donations coming from the US.

what now?

things jumbled in my head.

it's 30 minutes to 9pm and my parents will be picking me up anytime soon. i'm not exactly super okay physically today. i really think i need that massage. but i'm still finishing up a report, will take about 20 minutes... hmmm... and i need that quiet time with God. can't do it later tonight though. no more privacy once i leave my sister's house where i am working alone right now...

i can't bring my laptop to the 2-day camp we're having starting tomorrow (at quezon province) because i might be commuting a bit after i get dropped off somewhere here in manila on the way back. meaning i have to finish this report tonight.

nope, i'm not a delegate. i'll be yaya to the kids. when i get back friday night, i have a rummage sale to prep for the next day (saturday). which reminds me, i haven't exactly sorted out the stuff in my closet that i should be bringing to the rummage sale. worse, i have to tag each with prices... i wonder when i could squeeze that in my sched. while in quezon perhaps...?

hmmm... which leads me to the conclusion that i might have to do everything tonight? with a 730am assembly time tomorrow... and yeah, i forgot to ask the rink office for permission to be on leave for 2 days. uh oh... riza! you're just great... sigh...