Books I wanted this Christmas

Hello again Blogger! Well, Christmas time is here and these are the following books that I want this season.

The Pursuit of God by A.W. Tozer

I want to read this book because I can sense a good read in this book.

Philip Yancey's Book/s

The book titles are something, I want to read one of them soon.

Who You Are When No One's Looking - Bill Hybels

I've read one of Hybels' book, Just Walk Across the Room, and I learned things in that book. Hybels is a good author for me, and since I saw this book -- I need to read this too.

Perfect Timing (Preaching Appreciation 12-8-13)

Perfect Timing. What does this mean?

Let's consult our friend Google.

per·fect

adjective

ˈpərfikt/ 

- Having all the required or desirable elements, qualities, or characteristics; as good as it is possible to be.

tim·ing

noun

ˈtīmiNG/ 

- The choice, judgment, or control of when something should be done.

So, this means that perfect timing is "having all the required or desirable element, qualities, or characteristics accordingly." ( It's my definition. :) ) Well, this is a preaching appreciation so I would like to go to the word that was preached: Luke 1:5-17
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I want to thank God first for allowing my mere mind to understand His word. Without the knowledge He gave me, I might interpret and understood the word by 50% or maybe less.
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The story is about Zechariah and Elizabeth's prayer about having a child. Both of them were "righteous in the sight of God" (v.6) and they obey and observes God's commands. They were righteous but "they were childless because Elizabeth was not able to conceive, and they were both very old" (v.7). 

When Zechariah's division was on duty, God made a perfect timing to answer Zechariah and Elizabeth's prayer -- to have child. Zechariah was chosen by the lot "to go into the temple of the Lord and burn incense" (v.9). God sent an angel to Zechariah and "the angel appeared to him at the right side of the altar of incense" (v.11). When he saw the angel, he was in fear but the angel said to him: "Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard" (v.13)
*speaks in tongues* God, help me to convey your message to the readers of this blog. We can do this!
I appreciate the preaching because God is telling us how to wait for the perfect time even though the things that we wanted are past due our expected date. In the Scriptures, they will name their son John and "he will be a joy and delight to them, and many will rejoice because of his birth" (v.14) God's plans are perfect -- they will come in the perfect place and time, there are no flaws, these are all for the good. God's plans goes according to his will and we, humans, cannot change what God has planned for us -- even though we choose the wrong option, He will not change what He planned for us because He is a loving God. I hope that I refreshed you with God's word and I pray that you will learn to wait on what God promised for you. He will never fail. God Bless!~

A Thank you message

November 20, 2013 -- Too many events happened in this day.

You might be thinking what happened on that day and maybe one of the things that came up inside your head is that I celebrated my birthday -- If you thought of that, you are right. (Not hard to guess eh?)

 It was 10PM of November 19 when I decided not to put my birthday public on my Facebook account. An hour after, one of my "daughter" greeted me through text and I was moved by the message -- it's simple if you're the ones reading them but for me, they were totally from the heart (maybe I can tell it is from the heart because its been a long time since we've known each other). 

There were too many people who greeted me and I cannot thank them all in this post so I will try my best to thank all the people in this post.

To my "sister" who called me early in the morning to greet me and even though she had sore throat, she still talked to me over the phone for at most 10 minutes.

To LifeBox Cebu family who greeted me that day, thank you! I wasn't expecting that I will have a too many messages from unknown numbers, what I expect is that all of the unknown numbers that sent me a message will introduce themselves then greet me. LOL.

To Genevic, for treating me peanuts. <333 I wasn't expecting anything but she insisted. I cannot turn down grace.

To Curie (my classmates in HS), for texting me. That was an opportunity to gather again your numbers. I lost them after I reset the settings of my phone.

To my Discipleship Group, (Kenneth, Daryl, Kuya Anthony and Vincent [they were the ones present]), for treating me a cake the Sunday after my birthday. It was delicious -- I just missed eating mango flavored cake and it made me realize that I want more. HAHA!

To the 73 Hex users (hexrpg.com) for your wishes. It's my third birthday celebration there and I was happy that there were people that greeted me even though they did not know me personally.

To Gaia Online for giving me a "birthday" achievement. haha.

To my family that greeted me three times that day. I was about to cry in the third call when they let my autistic brother sing the "Happy Birthday" song. Oh well, maybe I just missed them. (Ma, thank you for the allowance for that day)

Lastly, I want to thank God for allowing me to live and experience his magnificent work for 20 years. 20 years of different emotions, different places and different people. It is indeed true that God is working in my life because I didn't see this kind of "me" when I was in High School.

P.S. 20th Birthday on November 20. -- It will not happen again. :)
Cherish the moment. . .the moment with God. :)

This is the day. (The Planetshakers: Night of Fire in Cebu)

Di jud mawala ang akong "pasensya" part. haha. pasensya kung dili straight english akong post.

An awesome wake-up messaged ang nisalubong nako: "ok bro, pag pray kay pending ang bus. :(" And I prayed jud kay "unsaon nalang ni unya? daghan raba ko gi-invite na naa'y bus going to the venue sa Planetshakers na concert." I believed the power of prayer so nitxt pod ko sa mga people na mangadto na magpray para magkabus later. The power of group prayer is more powerful so na-bless ra japun mi og bus. :)

Pagkaabot sa bus sa school, awesome kaayo kay nakita nako ang mga tao na gi-invite nako, mga tao na gi-invite sa other LifeBox members and na-happy ko pagkakita na ang bus kay naa'y chance na mapuno. First time in history sa bus na niabot og 29 ka tao. Sauna, grace ni God ang makapaabot sa amoa og 10+.

Pag-abot namo sa venue, WOW as in -- grabe kadaghan tao. And thank God kay nagkatapok tapok ra japun mi LifeBox members from different schools.

The front act band was Paglaum and they sang songs na ang lyrics kay lalum na bisaya pero grabe ilang pag-worship. After nila, there was maybe a 30-min break sa stage and BOOM! Planetshakers na. :) They welcomed the Cebuanos and visitors with "Let Praise Awaken" followed by "You Are Good", "Nothing is Impossible", "Put Your Hands Up", "Great Is Your Love", "Your Name Brings Healing To Me", "Break Every Chain" by Jesus Culture and "The Anthem".

I have a confession to make before ta mu-proceed sa next part sa concert: Nihilak diay ko sa pagkanta sa "The Anthem". Yes, as in awas-awas na luha. Why, you ask? Naa'y niflash sa akong mind while worshiping God -- akong self. Akong walk with God before and after ko Niya gi-save.

"The power of sin is broken, Jesus overcame it all. He has won our freedom, Jesus has won it all."

" . . . You have won the victory. . . You have won it all for me."

Okay, humana ko og confess. Let's proceed.

I'll take you to Colossians 1:9-12:

9 For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not sopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding. 10 And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way; bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, 11 being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and joyfully 12 giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light.

Unsa ang naa ani na verse, you ask again?

Mubalik ta sa verse 12.

giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light.

Inheritance (from the root word inherit) - "Receive (money, property, or a title) as an heir at the death of the previous holder.", Google definition. Unsa atong na-inherit? Akong answer? God's message. Di nako ma-explain tanan pero mao jud ang akong unod sa akong answer.

After sa mini-preaching, (sorry sa term, wa ko'y mahuna-hunaan na) Planetshakers sang "Limitless" and "Let Praise Awaken" as their final song. Guess what? Nagpatukar sila balik sa "Nothing is Impossible" kay ni-request ang crowd.

The crowd is awesome and they responded. Grabe jud mulihok si God. Amazing.

This is how Cebuanos worship. 

"a night we will never forget! . . . You are all incredible!" -- Planetshakers 

#Planetshakers #Philippines #Cebu

Planetshakers: Night of Fire sa Cebu "The Prayer Journey and Blessings"

First of all, I am sorry na dili ni pure English because di nako strength ang mu-talk and write og English. And yes, Cebuano + Kagay-anon dialect pod diay ni akong gamit. Sorry kung di masabtan ang uban.

I've been praying to God na makauban ko sa Planetshakers na concert and makapalit og 1K Ticket (which is the Praise pit). Gibutang nako siya sa akong Prayer Journal para when I check again the journal from the first page, makakita ko sa mga things na gibuhat ni God sa akong life. I've written my prayer about the ticket last July 27, 2013. (See the picture) Tungod sa daghan kaayo activities and other things ang academics nako, wala ko katigom para sa concert. That made me sad.

A month and few weeks passed by, naa'y announcement ang church na naa'y gina-sell na tickets na tag-300 nya buy one take one ang peg. Ana dayun ko sa akong self, "God, paapilon jud ko nimo no? Ang question nako God kay kang kinsa man nako ihatag ang isa?" Then sa sige nako og think ba kay naa'y memory na nibalik -- which is akong promise kang Krista, which is the Planetshakers ticket. So I bought the ticket last Friday sa among Youth Service (which was September 27, 2013) and then posted a status on Facebook:

"An answered prayer. Praying since July 27. Bought the tickets on September 27. 2 Months. 2 Tickets. Thank you sa mga taong nag-pray din sakin para makakuha ng ticket"s" for Planetshakers: Night of Fire 
#Grace #AnsweredPrayer"

Sa akong status, I commented and tagged Krista:

" Hello Krista Kae Capacio, remember my letter sa birthday nimo? Imuha diay ang isa. Sorry kung late kaayo."

After nun, I said to myself: "God, grabe ka ha? Imo jud kong nagamit as a blessing to others. Please gamita japun ko para sa imong mga plans sa mga tao duol nako." Three days after sa akong post sa Facebook, I chatted Christine and mao ni among chat history:

(NOTE: Italiziced chat is mine, kang Christine ang dili)
"Asa gani ka ga-board karun tin? Ubanan taka pauli after sa Planetshakers na concert."
"wow really kuya?? naa pa ticket?? wa baya ko kapalit...

Capitol ra ko kuya.."

"naa pa. 300 nga lang. sayang man gud na di ka kauban. rare event man gud ni.

yes, willing ko ubanan taka pauli."

"pero wa ko uban adto sa 300 kuya. loner ko adto.."
"300 man pod ko. I mean 300 pod ang uban."
"sure kuya ba. 300 ?? daw 500 man to ticket nimo..."
"when you buy a ticket na worth 300, you get another one.
buy one take one. Naa ka gusto iuban?"

"hala wala kuya kay busy si Vanessa ana. sure ka hatod moko kuya. mauban ko pag ihatod nimo ko..."

"yes. ihatod taka. you can make pananghid na to your dad. "

"he will allow me kuya pag may mghatod. gora bells. asa mag palit og ticket. wala pako naubosan???"

"wala pa. nagpareserve ko og tickets. "

"okay kuya gora kanus a ko makuha ang ticket?? hatag ko money nimo ugma"

"okay. makuha nimo ang pag makuha na nako. "

"free diba ang isa ka ticket kuya?? gora mangita ko kauban...

kuya ur heaven sent. happy kaau ko ron. I feel so blessed."

And I will quote this again,

kuya ur heaven sent.

Yun na yun eh. God used me again. Ana napod ko ni God, "Lord, pwede gamiton napod ko nimo? Lingaw lagi seeing people happy because You loved them and lingaw pod kaayo na ako imong gigamit na intawn, di man ko worthy to be a blessing to others oyy. Pero you still used me and thank you God for the experience."

Akala ko dun lang matatapos.

Late Thursday night (October 3, 2013), Felissa and I chatted on Facebook after I posted a status about Planetshakers' concert. And here is our conversation: (in screen caps):

Pila ka minutes after, nag-text nako si kuya Anthony:

"Daryl/Richard i.ask daw sila Maynard, JC, Charles, og Shao kung ganahan ba sila mu-attend og Planetshakers nga concert, Naa ta'y free ticket"

Ni-reply dayun ko ni kuya Anthony about sa case ni Felissa and BOOM! By the grace of God, naa na'y ticket si Ling (Felissa). "God, wagas na jud kaayo ka mugamit og tao ha? Nalingaw nako nimo.", while nagkatawaha sa internetan (internetan pajud ha? xD)

So guys, be faithful lang jud to God. And pray that He will use you in ways na di nimo ma-expect such as the situations mentioned in this blog. Tan-awa, diba malingaw jud mo sa inyong walk with God. :)