SUFFICIENT

“But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.” – 2 Corinthians 12:9 ESV

“This sufficiency is declared without any limiting words, and therefore I understand the passage to mean that the grace of our Lord Jesus is sufficient to uphold thee, sufficient to strengthen thee, sufficient to comfort thee, sufficient to make thy trouble useful to thee, sufficient to enable thee to triumph over it, sufficient to bring thee out of it, sufficient to bring thee out of ten thousand like it, sufficient to bring thee home to heaven… O child of God, I wish it were possible to put into words this all-sufficiency, but it is not. Let me retract my speech: I am glad that it cannot be put into words, for if so it would be finite, but since we never can express it, glory be to God it is inexhaustible, and our demands upon it can never be too great. Here let me press upon you the pleasing duty of taking home the promise personally at this moment, for no believer here need be under any fear, since for him also, at this very instant, the grace of the Lord Jesus is sufficient.” (Spurgeon)

fra·gil·i·ty

When you step out to the unknown, do you feel uneasy?

I am in this season where I am fully reminded of that scenario when Peter stepped out of the boat:

“Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.”
“Come,” he said.
Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus.
Matthew 14:28-29

Like Peter, I have stepped out of the boat – out of my comfort zone. It is not a rash decision I made. It is actually something I have reverently prayed for and was answered.

The moment I broke free, it hit me. Just when I thought I was already a trusting person with unwavering faith, I found out how unfamiliar territories scare me; uncertainties worry me; unexpected twists concern me.

But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!” Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?”
Matthew 14:30-31

Peter lost confidence that he will be able to walk on water after his focus shifted from Jesus to the wind.

I DID RELATE ON THIS, BIG TIME.  

That’s what happened to me too. I became so anxious when I turned towards all the work that needs to be done and the metrics that need to be met rather than focusing on how great the Lord and His promises are, which He had always kept, time and time again.

It is such a wake up call. I have been so self sufficient because of too much familiarity with everything. It is so selfish of me to forget what He can do with my weakness and my shortcomings.

Now, in the wilderness, He made me long for Him. I yearn for more of Him and His presence which is the only calm in the chaos brought by anxiety. I am reminded that the goal really is not to meet that quota but rather, get to know the Lord more – seek His kingdom and righteousness (Matthew 6:33).

I praise God for everything He has taught me in this short span of time. I am grateful that He brought me to this point of humility and full dependence on Him because really, if it’s only me, I can do nothing.

It is still an everyday spiritual battle, I admit. But now, whenever I am afraid, I come to Him with nothing but my weakness and vulnerability – the state where He is working best within me.

But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.
2 Corinthians 12:9

If you are going through life changing transitions too that make you want to doubt, please remember we are all made to persevere. We are fighting from a place of victory and not of defeat. 🙂

 

Love Finds You

When Jesus rose early on the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had driven seven demons. – Mark 16:9 

Why Mary?
She is the one with the mess,
the one plagued with demons,
the one with the smashed up heart.
As a woman of the first century, she is someone who belongs at the bottom rung of the social totem pole, and can never be seen as a credible witness. In fact, nobody truly sees her. Nobody believes she matters. Nobody looks at her thinking redemption is possible.

Nobody but Him. 

This is an excerpt from one of the stations during this year’s Walkway Station of the Cross. Months have already passed but this still speaks volumes to me.

There are a lot of people who are in need of rest, in need of assurance, in need of comfort, in need of peace. There are those who are hurt, damage, lost, hopeless. We have came across them. Oh, actually, we come across them every single day but we may not just be observant enough, not sensitive enough.

After once being the one who was going in circles, chasing things that I thought would fill me, here I am still in awe of how God has met me just in time.

There is so much solace on the fact that, in my heaviest state, Jesus had carried my weight. At my worst, in my brokenness, God saw the beauty. He made himself known through His overwhelming love and grace – His love which never fails.

Blessed are we who know the life found in Jesus. A life where obedience springs forth from joy. A life where surrender is an everyday decision. A life where love takes over.

May we be selfless, sharing the Truth that will heal the hurt, make whole the damaged, guide the lost and give hope to the hopeless. May we not miss out on the chance to speak life to people, giving them the assurance that through God, peace, comfort, and rest can be steadfast even through pains.

Are you restless? God is waiting. He will meet you in whatever state, wherever you maybe, if only you seek Him. 🙂

 

I choose You

On this day, five years ago, I woke up not knowing what happened the night before. I got way too drunk on home made rum cola due to a broken heart. (thanks for the memories, Facebook)

Today, I woke up with vivid memories of what happened not just yesterday, but everything over the last three days. After three months, I went up the prayer mountain again, with nothing but a confused longing heart.

I am not really the type who would go all emotional on things. But this weekend, I found myself crumbling into pieces, being fragile and vulnerable at its best. Gone is my perceived ‘pa-strong’ and ‘pa-logical’ self. There I was, letting go, getting broken, finding comfort and strength in the Lord.

It has been so liberating to allow yourself to wallow in your brokenness before Jesus. I lost it when this truth hit me: “Kate, I will keep on choosing you over and over again (John 15:16).” …Even if I don’t choose Him all the time; Even if I only choose Him when it is comfortable; EVEN IF — He still chooses me.

He has been committed to me even when I am not. He never forced His way into my heart. He patiently waited for that time when I will finally realize that in my peril, He is my assurance and strength. In my unfaithfulness, He is still faithful. And in my brokenness, He is filling out the crevices of me, making it beautiful.

Today, I woke up with a fleeting heart that is grateful for the sweet journey of letting go and surrendering again to the Lord. But by tomorrow, nothing is certain. I do not know if this is just a spirit high that will later on subside. I do not know if I can really bare myself as much or the walls will start to creep up again. I do not know if I would be as zealous and passionate as I am.

Amidst all this, all I know is God has never been as evident as He is to me now. With Him in me, I know I will not fall, I will not be moved (Psalm 46:5).

 

I can sing of Your love forever 🙂

B1G12 11.25-27.2016

Perspective

Years back, I would not have enjoyed hanging out on decks to watch the city lights because of my intense fear of heights. Now, it is my place of solace, that sweet spot where I know I can sit in silence, staying still to savour the moment.

From where I stand, everything is fine. The cityscape is showing off with its lights glimmering from afar. In this perspective, I can see the bigger picture, disregarding the mess and chaos below. In the grand scheme of things, all is beautiful.

Such is life when the Lord is your stronghold. You may be down but He will lift you up when you are in the valley lows. When you soar with Him, He will cause you to look to His goodness in times of pain and testing. He will assure you that after all the lessons that need to be learned (and re-learned), there is a reason – there is a beautiful story that will unfold. With Him, from way up high, everything that seem big will be too small. 🙂

Battles in life, most of the times, are won through having the right perspectives: a perspective that will choose to see through the trials, awaiting the wisdom and the character development that will come along with it; and, a perspective that withstands, never growing weary or weak in heart, because it finds hope in the promises left by our Heavenly Father.

Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom.  He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.  Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall;  but those who hope in the Lord  will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. 

– Isaiah 40:28‭-‬31 

May we choose to see things in better perspectives,

Kate 

It is okay to be Picky

Learn how to pick your battles wisely, they say.

Aren’t you grateful that our life is all about choices? We have always had that freedom to decide for ourselves. Nothing will ever be forced out of our will – unless a crime is being committed. It is safe to say that really, your life is what you make it. It will be lived based on the choices you make which may or may not be bounded by the beliefs you hold dear.

Learn how to pick your battles wisely, they say.

With each choice we make, there will be an effect that will be felt. Case in point, if we choose to eat junk after a good work out, I am 100% sure that you would hate yourself for ruining the work out you just did because you indulged in something you know is not beneficial for the body you are working for.

In a spiritual take, I hate myself whenever I sabotage my walk because I give in to my desires and my emotions. It gets frustrating to have this struggle with surrendering. One moment I am all fired up, offering it all up to Jesus and then the next moment, I just find myself on my knees pleading and crying out for help because there I go again, stumbling and fumbling for the nth time.

Learn how to pick your battles wisely, they say.

We have been given wisdom of what is right and wrong. We even have that ‘gut feel’ which somehow gives us an idea if something is off when our brain is being obstructed by feelings. We have been given the capability to know so we may decide.

Problem is, when we are so determined with what we want, we would want to make it happen come what may. And folks, most of the time, this is when we get hurt. We cannot just set aside that wisdom, that gut feel, that knowledge, because of our stubbornness. It was given for us to use so we may live a life that will be at par to the standards we uphold.

Learn how to pick your battles wisely, they say.

This is what I am choosing to learn. I have had so many failed attempts in life and this time, I have gone all out in prayers for guidance to decrease the chances of messing up again. Clearly, the Lord is teaching me how to pick those battles that will definitely put Him on my team.

As what has been said in the bible, “it is not good that the man should be alone”. We are not created to withstand this world on our own. We will always need help; so why not choose to partner with the One who will hold your hand constantly through it all? That One who would protect you and comfort you when all else fails. That One who will serve as your rock and your fortress when chaos ensues. The only One who would give up everything, even His own life, for you.

Learn how to pick your battles wisely they say..
And this is what I will take to heart, from here on forward.

To choosing battles that will be won through Jesus,

Kate

Through It All

To persevere through afflictions, keeping my faith and love onto the Lord firm and in tact when all else fails; this is what Job has been screaming to me as I was reading through his story.

You see, Job was a God fearing man who has faithfully obeyed Him and served Him all his life. Despite this, he has undergone trials – one after another until almost everything he got was taken away from him.

“Naked I came from my mother’s womb and naked I will depart. The Lord give and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised” – Job 1:21

Despite this, Job has stood firm in his faith and accepted all the sufferings he was given. But as any man would do, he grumbled at times and became self righteous, emphasizing how he has tried to live his life in a way that would bring God glory.

We all have gone through hardships and maybe for some, they are still going through difficulties in their lives. In times like these, how should we respond? Is our faith that of Job’s which accepts it all because he knows that God can give and take something away in just a snap?  Is our understanding that of Job’s which justifies why trials have been put in our life one after another?  Is our attitude that of Job’s which borders on self righteousness, asking God why are you punishing me when all I ever do is to obey You?

Through messages and my devotions these past days, God has been reminding me that everything, the good and the bad, happened and may happen so I can be molded into someone who will bring Him glory. Last night, in FNL’s first shadow series, the speaker, Kevin, said that God is at work through our darkness – those bittersweet defeats that make us want to quit on life altogether. We may harbor ill feelings for the Lord during those times but I am very much assured that at the end of it all, if we stay faithful, God will uphold us.

Another lesson I have learned last night is, quoting from Marco:
“Minsan, hindi ka tutulungan ni Lord, tuturuan ka niya.”

I was so blessed when I heard this because it is so true. We will not always have it our way but we will always learn something from what we have been put through.

All I really want to say is, let us try our best to turn our eyes on to God instead of turning our backs on Him when we are faced with trials. Let us still be joyful through our afflictions, turning to prayer and communing with God to lift off any heavy load that is upon us. Let us hold dear to His promises to us – “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

If you are deep in the slump, never lose hope because our Father is there waiting for you to call on to Him. And while you are in that state, delight in it, seek the lesson He is trying to teach you. Once you are over that hurdle, You will see how that story of yours is specially crafted by the Lord so you can be a witness to His goodness and unwavering love. ❤

Heart Check

This morning, I finished reading the book of Song of Songs. Going through its chapters, it was like witnessing true love unfold right my very eyes. I was captivated by how the bride was committed to the bride groom; how passionate she was with searching for him to express her love. Besides this aspect, I was taken aback by this verse repeated all throughout the book, thrice! The bride tells the daughters of Jerusalem,

“Do not arouse or awaken love until it so desires.”

I do not think this means that God wants us to just wait for something to happen. I believe that this is God saying that we should not rush getting into a relationship until we are sure enough that we can handle the responsibility it entails.

After reading this part of the bible, there is a part of me that wished I have read and studied the Word way back! It would have saved myself from all the heartbreaks! [Or not? Haha.] But, I know that all the nitty-gritty of my past relationships taught me bajillion lessons I took to heart.

I have never been in a God-centered relationship. I think that is the reason why those relationships did not work out. After the aching and the breaking,  one of the most, if not the most, important lesson I have learned is that a relationship should not just be about you and your partner – it should be about anchoring your relationship with God individually and together.

I do not want to sound all holy and that but I have learned things the hard way. At this point, I am not after someone who is perfect but rather, a sinner; A sinner who knows he is flawed enough to pursue Jesus. Being surrounded by people who share the same passion and love for our Father opened up my eyes that one should not really settle for anybody else but God’s Best. Do not deny yourself the opportunity of being loved by someone wholeheartedly and selflessly because he learned how to love from the best [1 John 4:19]!

May our hearts be blessed!
Kate

P.S. How’s this as a first post for 2016? Seems like the year is starting off a little bit lovely. 🙂 To light and love! ❤

 

Happy Birthday, Jesus!

This year’s Christmas has been such a joyous and meaningful celebration. This might be the most relevant one I’ve had in years because it has been really focused with sharing and giving the overflowing blessings that our Father has entrusted me.

My Christmas season started with this spiritual family in CCF Makati. Fridays have never been the same ever since we have attended Friday Night Light. This is where we quench our thirst for more of His word and get to share experiences and know individuals who are also in a pursuit of meaning and passion through Him. 🙂

The sharing continues as me and my college friends decided to share some of our blessings with the families who have been victims of fire recently in Mandaluyong. It was such a joy seeing the faces of the kids who have received the simple noche buena package we have prepared. It really is priceless to be able to extend a hand and let people know that they are not alone and there will always be those who are willing to help. ❤

It has been three years since my older sister, who is based in Singapore, last spent her Christmas here. Having her this year to celebrate it with us makes my heart overflow with happiness. Truly, nothing beats having your family complete during this season. 🙂

Above everything else, everyone is rejoicing because our savior is born! Happy Birthday, Jesus! Thank you for your unfailing love and unwavering faithfulness! May you live in our hearts, always and forever! ❤

Imagine how amazing it will be if we have this Christmas disposition everyday – where the spirit of giving and sharing happiness and love is just overflowing to one and all. Wouldn't it be awesomazing?

Wishing you have a meaningful celebration as well!

Merry CHRISTmas!

xx,
Kate and her moustache!

Sweets for my Sweet <3

I have been trying out baking for a while now. I have had a lot of miss – I baked red velvet cupcakes which really tasted awful – and I have few success stories with a little bitsy defect (like there was some salty parts or something, hehe). But I believe that you should try and try until you succeed (like Ms. Universe Pia right? :P). So, for this year, I decided to bake cookies as my Christmas gift for my officemates – something that is made out of love! 🙂

I baked some peanut butter cookies!! Thoughhh, I am not confident with how my cookies turned out, but as they say, it’s the thought that counts naman. Haha. In my defense, the two people who tasted it before I decided to give it a go said it was good! Not bad siguro since it is my first time to bake something like it. If it’s supposed to taste like chocnut (who does not love chocnut??), then mission accomplished! ❤

I have packed each cookie with cling wrap then placed it inside recycled magazine papers I used as wrap. I wrote little notes on it saying, “May we never forget the reason for this season. Merry CHRISTmas!”. I just wanted my cookie goodie to also serve as a reminder of how we all are being blessed with the birth of Jesus, the main reason for the celebration.

I think I will be doing DIY gifts from now on. Is it just me or don’t we just love things that we know have been made specially for us? Honestly, the best gift I have received this year is a ginormous Christmas card with notes from my dear friends at the office –  something so touching that really made me tear up.

In the end, whatever it is that we give or receive doesn’t matter because the Best Gift was already given to us by our Father. 🙂 May we all take to heart that it’s the season to be jolly because our Savior has been born!

I am wishing you and your family a meaningful and wonderful Christmas! 🙂

Merry CHRISTmas everyone!