My Flesh is Weak

These past few days God has lead me to verses on strengthening my spirit during my job-hunting season – seeking (Mathew 6:33) and trusting Him first (Proverbs 3:5-7). And yes it comforted me a lot, taking away most of my worries about my new job.

But last Sunday, He reminded me of something. This verse:

Haggai 1:5-7

Now this is what the Lord Almighty says: “Give careful thought to your ways. You have planted much, but have harvested little. You eat, but never have enough. You drink, but never have your fill. You put on clothes, but are not warm. You earn wages, only to put them in a purse with holes in it.”

This is what the Lord Almighty says: “Give careful thought to your ways...”

The bible just told tell me the continuation of His advice, which J.C. Ryle put into words in one of his articles – to stop and think, to consider and be wise – to give CAREFUL THOUGHT to my ways.

During this time, Israel was rebuilding God’s temple in Jerusalem. However, as the people neglected God’s business and busied themselves with their own agendas, their confused priorities produce poor results. Similarly, God is telling me to re-examine my ways (or the path I am planning to take), if they produce (or will produce) good results according to His purpose and if I am still considering my own personal (earthly) agenda in prioritizing things for Him. Give CAREFUL THOUGHT to my ways.

God also lead me to this verse:

Mathew 26:41

“Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

Jesus told his disciples in the garden to watch and pray so no one will fall asleep. Take note. Not just pray, but WATCH AND PRAY.

Yes. Praying is good. Seeking His kingdom and righteousness first is fantastic. Unswerving faith and belief is great. No question. But He also expects me, so I will not fall into temptations, to KEEP WATCH – to use my senses, which (by the way) were provided also (by Him) for this purpose.  He wants me to use my own cognition to analyze and determine whether my ways are producing good results according to His will.

Honestly, after I’ve read the verses from Proverbs 3:5-7 and Mathew 6:33, I immediately jumped into the thought of Him doing all the work and making all the decisions for me. The thought of Him just dropping this so-called “perfect job” in front of me is so attractive and all I need to do is just get into it. I made these verses perfect excuses for me to avoid executing a judgement and making a decision. What I fail to realize is that God has already given me the ability through the guidance of the Holy Spirit to make the right decision and to stand by it (believing God leads you to this decision).

The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.

 God wants me to activate and trust my God-given senses and abilities to do their role arising to a decision which is rooted from Him and in the purpose of fulfilling His will.

God is calling me to strengthen not only my spirit but also my flesh.

***

Thank you Lord for establishing in me the importance of seeking You first and trusting You with all my heart especially in this situation. Thank you also Lord for reminding me that I also need to activate my God-given flesh, that is, to give a careful thought to my ways, whether the decision I will make is glorifying You or myself.  Thank You Lord. I love You.

***

Honor the Lord with your Wealth

And His reminders did not stop there.

He continued.

Proverbs 3:9-10

Honor the Lord with your wealth,

    with the firstfruits of all your crops;

then your barns will be filled to overflowing,

    and your vats will brim over with new wine.

He reminded me that when I already get His blessings, I must not forget Him. Yes, most of us, when we acquire the blessings, forget the Blesser. Remember what happened to the Israelites? After God miraculously provided them food to eat and water to drink in the desert, they forgot God and then turn their heads to their lifeless idols. Sad but true.

This is also a reinforcement of what He told in Proverbs 3:6, acknowledging Him in ALL my ways, even after the blessings have been given – honoring Him with the firstfruits of all my “crops”.

This is the essence of tithing.

***

Lord, thank you for Your everlasting blessings. Lord, oftentimes we forget to give thanks to you after we receive the blessings Lord. Forgive us Father and help us to give you honor and praise not only when we need you, but most especially during and after the time of Your help.  We love you our Father Almighty.

*** 

With All my Heart

Okay, I was not okay, earlier today.

Yesterday, I received the job offer from Company X, which happened to be lower than what I expected – both the salary and the benefits.

Today, I had two interviews. The first one interview, with Company Y, went well but it offered me a job that is a bit not what I am looking for right now. The second one with Company Z, offered me the perfect job but I am not satisfied with the way I handled the interview.

And on my way home, my spirit was so down and really, I was so depressed.

I was repeatedly saying this in my mind – ikaw na bahala Lord! (It’s now up to you Lord!)  

And then, there He went again – amazing me for the nth time.

As I opened my bible to do my QT, here is what I found.

(FYI, this is not random. This is really my assigned verse for tonight)

Proverbs 3:5-6

Trust in the Lord with all your heart
    and lean not on your own understanding;
in all your ways acknowledge him,    and he will make your paths straight.

And my thoughts went deeper.

This verse is very similar to Mathew 6:33 which I just quoted from my last blog.

Notice that our part (“Trust in the Lord with all your heart”, “In all your ways acknowledge him” and “Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness”) comes first before His part (“and He will make your paths straight” and “and all these things will be given to you as well”).

Not that God wants us to do our part just to gain His blessings.

But what these verses mean is as we do our part in the right way (with all our hearts) we will no longer mind the second part, which is His blessing.

Or in the case of Mathew 6:33, when we found His kingdom and His righteousness, we will no longer ask for any other blessings (because these alone are the most precious blessings of all).

So what God is telling me are two main things: 

1. Trust Him with all my heart [with confidence (Hebrews 4:16), unswervingly (Hebrews 10:23), without doubt (James 1:6)] that everything is according to His sovereign plan and that He is in control of the situation. And, 

2. Don’t forget to acknowledge Him in all my ways (ALL = 100%, especially during interviews and during the recruitment process, it must always acknowledge Him).

Just do these two things and He will take care of the rest.

And seriously, immersing myself in the thought of these things, I forgot all my worries and sadness, at an instant. (Great is His comforting power!)

***

Haay. Thank You God for just being there with me. You are truly an awesome God, who guides Your people to what is right and according to Your will. Help me Lord to trust in You with all my heart, with full of confidence and without any doubt. Remind me Lord to acknowledge You in all of the things that I do, from the smallest things to the greatest. Lord, You are my everything. I love you God.  

***

Job Temptations

“No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.”

- Luke 16:13

My son, if sinful men entice you, do not give in to them.

- Proverbs 1:10

This is one of the guides I think God is teaching me during this job-hunting period of my life – DO NOT GIVE IN TO TEMPTATIONS FOR YOUR CONVENIENCE.

Honestly, these are my considerations in choosing among my applications:

1. Salary – should be high

2. Car – should have a car and gas allowance

3. Somebody I know within the company – so someone will guide me and accompany me during Lunch

4. Ease of work – of course! Who wants hardships?

5. Multinational company – prestigious!

And all these are pointing to my advantage (convenience), not His.

All these glorify not His name, but mine.

Honestly I am easily tempted by these things thinking that I deserve all these. I’ve been in the industry for five years! And I have an international experience. So I think it’s just time for me to have these things.

But I almost forgot that I have a mission to accomplish. I forgot that God is using me on His purpose. I forgot that my life is not mine anymore but His.    

According to Mathew 6:33, “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”

God is warning me from looking at things from my perspective. He is reminding me that He has plans for me, “plans to prosper me and not to harm me, plans to give me hope and a future” (Jeremiah 29:11) and that I need to seek His plans first and aligning myself according to these plans, and then all these things will be given to me.

* * *

Forgive me Lord on having these criteria that will glorify myself, instead of You Lord. Now I am ready to listen to you oh Lord. Direct me Lord to the direction according to your will. During those times that I don’t hear your voice Lord or I intentionally ignore it, please please please, you are very welcome to slap my head and tell me, “Oi, wrong direction Noel”.  Thank you Lord. 

* * *

Doodles

As my doodle shows, VISION refers to the destination. This answers the question "where do you want to go?" or "what do you want to be?"

"a rich man" 

MISSION refers to the path that you will follow to reach your vision. This answers the questions "how do you reach your vision?" or "what path are you taking to reach your vision?"

"be a rich man by being a successful business man!" 

GOALS are markers along the path that tells you, you are in progress towards your vision. These are your checklist that you have to watch out.

"start my own business. earnings of this much by year 3. have 10 branches by year 10..."

Since Chinese New Year is still happening next week, it is not yet late to finalize our goals for 2012. 

And my Life Group talked about yesterday, as Paul shared to us the diagram above, differentiating Vision, Mission and Goals and identifying the importance and the interdependence of each element to each other.

What we focus on is the GOALS part, which has to be SMART! 

S - specific - what? who? where? when? 

M - measurable - what are the criteria? 

A - actionable - what are the action plans?

R - realistic - is this realistic to you? 

T - timely - when is your deadline?

now, are you ready to set your goals this 2012? 

or in some case, you may check your goals if they are SMART! :) 

  

Reason to LOVE

I just want to share this video which was shown to me during my victory weekend.
Ever since, this became a very effective reminder to me that whenever I feel lost and tempted, I'll just watch this to remind myself the greatness of God's LOVE to me (that made Him sent his one and only son to suffer and experience this cruelty, to regain my relationship with Him). Isn't that amazing??  

And remembering this LOVE always gives me the motivation and reason to LOVE Him back and LOVE others as well. 

Mission Accomplished!

Last year, I joined our team who went to a 10-day mission in Cambodia.

The mission is to be a blessing to the church, which by then, is just being started.

One of the activities is to go to the nearby University and look for students who we can plug in to the Life Class of the church and eventually to become a disciple.

I know that one my greatest weaknesses is my PR Skills. 

I'm not fond of talking and connecting to strangers.

I'm shy. I'm not confident.

So I was worried.  

I asked one of my teammates, "What if I have no students to bring to the Life Class??"

"Ano ka ba?", she answered me with questions, "Asan ang FAITH mo bro??"

And this really struck me.

That night, I prayed to God and asked Him to be with me during the University visit and to equip me, so that I speak the right words to convince the student to come with me.

I was reminded of this experience by the story of Moses.

Moses was given a task to set free the Israelites from Egypt.

This was not an easy task, as shown when Moses bargained his way out of the mission. 

He asked God what if his fellow Israelite don't listen to him, he also pointed out that the Pharaoh may not listen to him as well, and he reminded God that public speaking was not his forte.

Like me, Moses did not realize the power and the greatness of God - that HE IS ABLE to provide him what he needs to complete the mission. 

This is very important when God calls us to do something, whether it's just a small-scale or a big mission. Our weaknesses must not stop us from carrying out this assignment, because with this marching order from God come His strength, and assistance. 

We must always remember that the success of the mission does not depend on our SKILLS but on our FAITHFULNESS.

So as the story goes, God still chose Moses, despite his hesitations.

He gave Moses the strength and skills to deliver the Israelite out of Egypt.

And he was able to do this. 

And for me? God is so good that the next day after I prayed, He gave me not one, not two but THREE students! :)

MISSION ACCOMPLISHED! 

Miracles

Miracles do come true, when you put Jesus at the center of your life :)

Collaboration

I was reading a John Maxwell book about being a good team player.

Chapter 2 talks about COLLABORATION.

Collaboration is working together aggressively.
Cooperation is working together agreeably.

According to it, becoming a collaborative team player requires a change in focus in 4 areas:
1. Perception - See teammates as COLLABORATORS, not as COMPETITORS.
2. Attitude - Be SUPPORTIVE, not SUSPICIOUS to team mates.
3. Focus - Concentrate on the TEAM, not on YOURSELF.
4. Result - Create VICTORIES through MULTIPLICATION.

This chapter really struck me, because of the following, which not everybody knows about me.
1. When I was working with a person that I don't enjoy being with, I am not that cooperative and supportive of his/her efforts.
2. I enjoy working alone, I think that my work become slower and less effective when others are involved.
3. I am a suspicious person in nature (sorry!). Sometimes, I can't help myself looking at the dark side.
4. Most of the time in making decisions, the "what's-in-it-for-me?" question is a consideration.

Thus, I am not a collaborative team player. Or am I even a team player?

This 2012, I promise myself that I will enhance this area of mine.

But how to do that?
The book also suggest some tips to become a collaborative team player.
1. Think win-win-win. I win, you win, the team wins!
2. Complement others. Work together with a person who has strengths in the area of my weakness.
3. Take myself out of the picture. Get in a habit of asking what's the best for the team, not whats convenient for me.

In summary, I have to be selfless, think more of others and always put in mind the bigger goals that has to be accomplished. 

God Blessed the Broken Road

I set out on a narrow way many years ago
Hoping I would find true love along the broken road
But I got lost a time or two
Wiped my brow and kept pushing through
I couldn't see how every sign pointed straight to you

Every long lost dream led me to where you are
Others who broke my heart they were like Northern stars
Pointing me on my way into your loving arms
This much I know is true
That God blessed the broken road
That led me straight to you

I think about the years I spent just passing through
I'd like to have the time I lost and give it back to you
But you just smile and take my hand
You've been there you understand
It's all part of a grander plan that is coming true

Now I'm just rolling home
Into my lover's arms
This much I know is true
That God blessed the broken road
That led me straight to you

This song reminds me of how faithful our God is.

God bless the BROKEN road, that lead me straight to you.

I am sure that some of us can relate in its present context - relationships.

Top of mind scenario is that a girl who had a bad break-up with her boyfriend (or worse, fiance) and she was crying in a cafe then a good looking man who happened to be just passing by, saw him and lend her a handkerchief. And so on and so forth, and they lived happily ever after.

When God said he will give us our "THE ONE", surely, He will!

And in this case, God can use our past relationships to bring us to this "THE ONE".

But come to think of it, we can use it in other context.

One of my favorite example is the story of Joseph (yes, the dreamer). When Joseph was still a child, he was thrown into a hole in the ground by his envious brothers, he was sold as a slave, he was accused of rape by his boss's wife, and forgotten by the cupbearer that once promised him to mention his freedom to the Pharaoh. If anyone has to be angry about how things in his life turned out, it was him.

But years passed by, Joseph became the right hand of the Pharaoh and eventually saved Egypt from the famine. And also because of this, he was able to save his family from hunger.

You see? If Joseph's brother did not sell him as slave, the entire household probably died.

"You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good...", according to Joseph.

God blessed the envy of his brothers, that lead Joseph to saving the entire Egypt and his family from the famine. And this paved way for the birth of Moses, and then David, and then Jesus!

Obviously, God knows what He was doing. He has a plan. He sees the big picture. We don't.

It's a matter of TRUST in Him, a complete submission of our life to Him and believing that He will never lead us to nothing.

It's all part of a GRANDER plan, that is coming true!

Can you imagine what's His GRAND plan in your life?

Why He allowed such not-so-good things to happen to you?

Guys, we have a faithful God, what He was 1 million years ago, is still what He is right now. What He promised 2 million years ago, He will fulfill!

God, give us the ability to remain faithful to You, as You are faithful to us.

Piano Cafe

Happy Vietnam Day!

Tieday Holiday!

It is tie day today, folks!
And also a holiday.
Happy independence day, Vietnam! :)

Tuol Sleng

saving this so that next time I go to salon, i will just show this. 

shopping day!

Next

next

next

next... 

functional heavens

Saigon Rain

According to them, Saigon Rain is a when-it-rains-it-pours type of rain.

Truly it is! 

Took these shots while waiting for Henry.

-August17-

I traveled the world

Got a bit bored so I traveled the world.

Thanks to Google Maps! 

 First stop: Dubai! 

I swear, they have the most intricate and sophisticated landscape (urban planning) that i have ever seen in this trip!

Look at those big pools around Burj Khalifa (tallest building) or are those carved rivers? 

 

Burj Khalifa was fully booked that time so i went to nearby Burj Al Arab.

Good thing they have available rooms for me. 

I picked the cheapest - 4,491AED (1,200 USD). 

Very cheap! 

The next day, i got the earliest Air France flight to Paris.

Oh but of course, the Eiffel Tower, mademoisselle! 

I would like to stay for a night to see the lighted tower but I noticed that I'm running out of money and the last train trip to Wiltshire is at 5pm! So I hurried to the train station and grabbed a seat next to the window so i could see the nice green meadow in the countryside.

Arrived at Wiltshire 6am in the morning. And went straight to the Stonehenge. 

Very cosmic yet, stoney. (whut?)

And of course I would like to take my picture at the center of the circle. 

At the center, even before i took the shot, something was dropped from the sky on to my head. 

"What the h--"

And when i look inside the plastic...

OK so I now have money..move on with the trip. 

Egypt is my next stop.

So jabar hot! 

But i can't help myself staring at the great pyramids. 

They are so majestic...and gigantic! 

Fantastic! 

From Africa, to the US! 

Woohoo New York!! 

Who needs a visa? 

I visited my grandma in Mississippi...Ate Lola's original steak and squash soup and spent the night there...

Their house is located along the Mississippi River so I got a good view of one of the longest river in the world. 

 (I never expected Mississippi is a huge collage of art, very beautifool!)

Went also to see Liberty. 

It's been a long time since we saw each other. 

Hi Lib! (close?)

Before going back to Asia, I decided to passed by Sydney to watch a musical in the Sydney Opera house. 

Had my lunch by the bay while watching those yachts. 

After the meal, I feel that I wanted a bit of adventure so I also passed by North Korea. 

Hello there far relative of Sandara! 

 And for inner peace, I meditate for 5 minutes at the Shwedagon in Yangoon, Myanmar. 

 And then back home!

 oops...

I forgot...

Dito pala. 

My dear Saigon. 

And then my phone rang. 

uh-ow, my boss! 

I still need to finish a report. 

okbye! 

-August15-

Football

what we wore

CRAVE

What do you CRAVE for? 

Food? Bonchon Chicken!! Woohoo!

New gadgets?  iPhone 5! gonna save for it! 

Shopping? 50% off in Forever21?? Lezzgow! 

Healthy and fit body?  Sorry guys, it's full of carbs. 

Adventures? *log on to Cebu Pac site* OMG! SEAT SALE!

Parties? See you on Friday night at Bugsy's.

Books? Yehey! Book launch of Neil Gaiman! 

But have you ever CRAVEd for reading the Bible? 

Have you ever CRAVEd for attending Sunday Service? 

Have you ever CRAVEd for attending your small group sessions?

Have you ever CRAVEd for your nightly quiet time with God?

Have you ever CRAVEd for a conversation with Him?

-August14-

Yesterday, Today and Forever!

Two Sundays ago, we performed the song Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow by Vicky Beeching. 

Very amateur but I like it! 

There are some glitches but an ordinary person can barely noticed it.

My vocalist Hang and her back-up Thuan did a good job! 

Thuan never joined us in rehearsals but she surprised me with her second voice! 

 

I played the guitar. 

And it brought "kalyo" to my left finger tips.

But it's worth it! 

Next time again guys! :) 

Also, showed you shots of my guitar using my new camera.

Yes! I have a new camera! :) 

-August13-

Ba Ba Baaaa

closing time

closing time

Hence, 

-august10-

awesome, awesome, awesome!

-August5-

My dear Saigon

A light in the dark

Buhay Dagat