60 Days of Favor

Like any ordinary man, I was afraid too to commit and get into marriage because of the responsibilities that come with it. Thanks be to God and His people for making me realize that the greatest favor is given to those who brave themselves to step up into their relationships and honor God through marriage.

I’m not proud of NOT having wedding-savings before I decided to get married BUT delaying marriage just because of my financial status is not what God wants me to do.

God is good and all He wanted me to do is TRUST HIM.

And true to His word, “God is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine…” (Ephesians 3:20) and “He will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:19). And so I received the most wonderful favors from the Lord and that pouring of blessings never stop!

My heart is overflowing with joy and love receiving the first 60 days of grace-filled favor from our Father in heaven.

“He who finds a wife finds what is good and receives favor from the Lord.” – Proverbs 18:22

Photo by Veejay Jimenez

 

30 Days Since #DEW413

It has been 30 days since our wedding day and I just don’t know how to describe the kind of joy I have experienced on that day and the days after that. It has been a wonderful journey and I just can’t really express the gratefulness of my heart. Just really wanted to shout it out how blessed I’ve been and celebrate the goodness and faithfulness of God in our lives.

Oh Lord, how can I really thank you. If only I can talk to everyone I know and tell them how good you are, I will. Maybe I should. Actually, I really should. So let me just start from here and see where it’s gonna take me. Words may not always come right out of my mouth and this writing is as terrible as those dirty dishes in the kitchen sink. Just came home from watching the Amazing Spider-man 2 and in my mind I cannot imagine myself being in the situation of losing the love of my life – [SPOILER ALERT – oh you know this!] just like how Peter lost Gwen. I felt sad. Really sad. But that kind of sadness cannot take over me. I know I am blessed to have the person I wanted to be with for the rest of my life – and I am secure that God will let me spend that lifetime with her. Crazy. I am no longer afraid to die. Thanks to Jesus, I know where I am going. What I’d like to pray about just now is really for God to give me a long life to spend with my wife and see our children grow old and get married too. And have grandchildren too. That’s really gonna be awesome!

30 mornings and 30 nights – 30 happy days! Oh Lord, you are so faithful. I still cannot believe that you have given me this life that I don’t deserve! I betrayed you for so many years and have not known what it is to have a relationship with you. I have only found my home in you for 2 years and this is what you have already given me! I don’t deserve any of these. How you loved me is just unimaginably true. I’ve never been treated this way all my life. You’re the only one who has loved me unconditionally endless.

Your love is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow. And that gives me the kind of peace and security that no one in this world can give to me. You are more than enough, Jesus. Ethelie is an amazing bonus, a gift from heaven that I will always take care of. I don’t deserve her, but you gave me her anyway. You gave me the privilege to love her, take care of her, lead her, provide for her, protect her and to simply just be there for her in the ups and downs of this crazy little life we have. And thank you for giving us a purpose. We can live a life full of meaning because you are the one who has given us all the real reasons to live.

That morning of our wedding is just the beginning of our wonderful adventure! Thank you for orchestrating a great story and testimony for us. I wouldn’t be a joyful husband with a beautiful God-fearing wife today without you, God. For all the people you’ve brought into our lives – THANK YOU!

Oh God, you are faithful. You are sooooo goooooood!

“You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands.” – Isaiah 55:12

{Photos by Veejay Jimenez}

PS. If you got stressed with my writing, please send me a revised & improved version. I’ll take that! hee hee 😀

Die to Yourself, Dads!

This morning, I had an opportunity to sit down with our Kids Church Pastor at Victory Fort and have a mentoring and ‘fathering’ session with him. Pastor Mark Tusoy, joyfully married with two kids, is one of the first few men in our spiritual family who I know can I really learn from. And that’s because of his inspiring faith and his excellent leadership not only with Kids Ministry but more importantly inside his own home with his family. I am so grateful that God has given me an opportunity to have an easier reach to people like him.

I can even recall those times that I pray to God to bless me with mentors who have a close relationship with Him and guide me with life in general. That’s even before I became a Christian. Now, I just really can’t believe that God has brought me to a place where I can really call a ‘spiritual family’ my own and that I feel I belong.

God has indeed those amazing ways of orchestrating relationships for you.

I remember my first remarkable encounter with Pastor Mark. I don’t know him personally at that time yet but I remembered him because of his inspiring testimony about his wedding. I believe it was one of those first few seminars I have attended in Kids Church when he shared that he only had 10,000 pesos in his savings account when he decided to get married and propose to his girlfriend-now-his-wife. I said to myself, “What an incredible faith!”

I was in a relationship with Ethelie at that time already. And that statement made a great impact on me.

Now that Pastor Mark was able to share to me more details about that story and how God has blessed them and provided for their wedding and the day after the wedding (which is more important), I must say ‘he really had an incredible faith’! And we’re believing in a great God.

Marriage is indeed not a financial decision. It is a FAITH DECISION.

When you truly want God to be in the center of your relationship, and you want His name to be gloried through your story. God will honor that. And God will surely bless your commitment to Him.

And that’s truly what Ethelie and I wanted for our wedding and for our marriage in the future. More than all the crazy wedding details, we want God’s presence to be totally felt on our wedding day where people who will be witnessing our union will feel blessed and inspired. And Ethelie and I will just be in awe of God’s goodness and His amazing grace.

The time I spent with Pastor Mark listening to his stories, testimonies and his wisdom is really worth it. And as I reflect on all the things he said, I believe this is the most important thing I have heard from him.

“DIE TO YOURSELF.”

“Die to Yourself, Dads!” Now, I’ve been repeating this to my mind over and over again. “Die to Yourself, Dads! Die to Yourself!”

Now what does ‘dying to myself’ mean to me and to my relationship with Ethelie right now and to our future marriage.

‘Dying to myself’ means throwing away all the selfishness in me and show my love to Ethelie through selfless actions.

It means carrying the burden of financial management regardless who’s better in handling money.

It means enthusiastically listening to her stories without telling her she has told me that same story for more than once already. Listening to her frustrations without trying to give a quick solution to it and learning the art of ‘just be there’.

‘Dying to myself’ means getting water for her when she’s thirsty and too lazy to go to the fridge, washing the dishes when dinner is over, running for errands even I have more important things to do.

It means looking out for her well-being, taking care of her, making sure she’s alright, checking-up on her even when I am busy, spend more time talking to her, loving the things that she loves, giving in to her cravings, planning a date just for the two of us and believing that God will provide for us even when the world is saying it’s not gonna happen, and the pressure is too high and when practicality is the route I’m going into when I could believe for great things that God can do for us.

Dying to myself means taking the active role of a leader in the relationship, forgetting my tendencies to be passive, and actively seeking God in all that we do. I cannot be like Adam anymore who took a bite of the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil instead of telling Eve, “I am the leader of this home, and knowing that God has commanded us not to eat the fruit of this tree, we will follow Him.”

I cannot change the story of ‘The Fall’ anymore, but I can change our attitude and perspective to call out on the destiny God has given us and lead her and our future family to Jesus.

Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross, and follow me. (Matthew 16:24 NLT)

‘Dying to myself’ is easier said than done. But if it means, a more joyful, more peaceful, more harmonious and more prosperous relationship between my future wife and I. I’d be willing to die everyday for her. And just pray to God to help me in every way.

If Jesus had died for me. I can also die for my wife-to-be.

So “Die to Yourself, Dads! Die to Yourself!”

 

 

An Open Apology Letter to Ethelie

I was moved to post this and I quickly asked my fiance’s permission to post my letter to her on my blog and she surprisingly agreed. This is not meant to be uberly-transparent, or be melodramatic and definitely not to boast about anything at all. I just feel that there’s a lesson that we can all learn from this especially for those people struggling to ask for forgiveness or maybe to those struggling to give forgiveness.

So here’s my exact letter to Ethelie, handwritten for her but I’m posting this for everyone to read and maybe learn from.

(September 14, 2013 / 6:30pm / Seattle’s Best Bonifacio High Street)

Babe,

I was planning to do this here, while hanging out and waiting for Eli. I thought I’d be feeling truly wonderful writing this letter for you – but you know what happened on our whatsapp conversation few minutes ago. And to be really honest, I really felt bad on how you reacted – my hands were shaking typing my response. I got pissed off. It got into me. Now I chose to stop, pause and just worship. I’m feeling slowly better now. Yes, I wanna get over with this as fast as possible and I need God’s grace – so this won’t consume me. One thing I really wanted to avoid is to be too emotional or be consumed with anger and make a decision. The last message you’ve sent could have provoked me but by God’s grace, was able to control myself. Now I think I can say this…

I’m sorry Babe. I’m sorry if I made you feel that way. I recognise the difficult situation you’re in right now and the first person who you thought would understand you have failed to do that. I’m really sorry. I could have explained the situation in a better way but I didn’t. Instead, I gave into my initial reaction and have let it consume me for a moment. I’m sorry for disappointing you. I’m sorry for not being your man at that moment when you need me. And for failing to recognise immediately the deeper reason why you were responding that way.

Please forgive me, Babe.

Yes, I do love you. And I love you still. Our God is wonderful. Our God is bigger than our frustrations. And He’ll keep us together no matter what.

Mahal na mahal kita. 

Dads

Few things about this letter:

1. Ethel and I don’t have the ‘perfect’ relationship. But we do have a perfect GOD.

2. Being a Christian (Jesus-follower) doesn’t exempt you from all the emotions that human can feel. But through the grace of God, we don’t need to be consumed by those emotions.

3. Ethel and I were both undeserving of God’s forgiveness but He has forgiven us anyway because of Jesus Christ. Ethel and I both deserve HELL but God wanted us to be with Him in heaven and the only way is through JESUS.

We can forgive because God has forgiven us.

Is forgiveness easy? Not really. Remember the cross. Someone has to die there for mankind’s forgiveness.

“Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.” – Colossians 3:13

Be Strong. Be Courageous.

“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.” – Joshua 1:9

Isang Himala (One Miracle)

This was supposedly just a #ThrowbackThursday post on Facebook, but I decided to make it a blog. I guess this would be a blog-worthy story.

I posted the photo on the lower part of the whole image above in November 2009 with this caption from one of my all-time favorite OPM song:

“Pangarap ko’y makita kang naglalaro sa buwan
Inalay mo sa akin ang gabing walang hangganan
Hindi mahanap sa lupa ang pag-asa
Nakikiusap na lang
Himala… Kasalanan bang humingi ako sa langit ng
Isang HIMALA…”

After 3 years (and then 4) I believe I received the ‘HIMALA’ I prayed for. And that’s the best miracle I have received after surrendering my life to Jesus.

I guess what this picture is telling me is this:

“Dads, you need to be a fisher of man first (meaning follow Jesus), and then surely in God’s perfect time, you will be able to catch that perfect ‘fish’ for you.”

“And he (Jesus) said to them, ‘Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.'” – Matthew 4:19 ESV

“Delight yourself in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart.” – Psalm 37:4 ESV

And that brought me to having that picture above with the beautiful ‘fish’ I do not own – but a God-given privilege to take care of and to love – and she came at God’s perfect time.

Isn’t that a miracle?

Happy to Serve

Kids Church will forever be close to my heart because there I found my love. The Kids – and of course, Ethelie. After nearly 9 months of serving Kids Church – we’re still HAPPY TO SERVE.

“It is vitally important that our children be led to a personal relationship with Christ and instructed in His Word when they are young. If I could relive my life, I would devote my entire ministry to reaching children for God.” – D.L. Moody, Great American Evangelist

You’re Young and You Matter

“Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity.” – 1 Timothy 4:12 NIV

Fathering to my niece Seagn, who just turned 12, is a bit challenging for me. She’s growing up and I know she’s getting more stubborn and at the same time vulnerable to a lot of things. We seldom get to bond with each other these days but every time we get the chance, I make sure we have those Tito Jay & Baby Seagn conversations.

What I always tell her is that she does matter to us and even though our family situation is not perfect, I secure her with our love for her. And now that I’m getting wisdom by learning God’s WORD, I get to pass on whatever I am learning to her.

Seagn is a princess of God. She is young but definitely not someone people can look down on. And all I pray is for her to find security and significance only from God and His Word.

“Stop determining your worth and value by what other people say. Be determined by what the Word of God says.” – Joyce Meyer

Unmagical Seven

Unmagical Seven. A very unlikely title, right? But that’s how I really want to put it. It’s my girlfriend, Ethelie, and I’s seventh month journey of courtship to marriage. And I must say it has been an amazing ride!

But there’s really nothing magical about our love story. That’s why I say it’s ‘Unmagical Seven’.

We’re so used to that concept of love that should bring a magical feelings to us, a firework or some bells ringing.. In reality, love is really nothing about those stuff.

Ethelie has always been asking me, “How sure am I if she’s the one? How can I say that I really love her?”. Then I always tell her, “I chose to. And I just do.”

There’s no MAGIC in love.

Where is magic during those times I get critical comments from her?

Where’s that magic when I told her I am not a wealthy guy, I am financially burdened but I have dreams and I am ready to work hard for us and our future?

Where is magic when I’m the man and I am the one who has set the rule that I cannot truly kiss her until that day we’ll say “I do.” (Smacks on the cheek are great, yeah!)

Will magic last when we have misunderstandings and arguments?
When she’s unlovable, and I am disgusting?
When our personalities clash and we want to start thinking we’re enemies?
When I disappoint her and I am having a hard time pleasing her?
When I feel unworthy and I know I don’t deserve any kindness and understanding from her?

But during those difficult times when the weak ‘me’ is starting to ask “Is she really the one?” God will always remind me about how He answered me when I asked Him the same question seven plus months ago…”You’re a grown-up man now, Dads. Decide and commit everything to me!”

Like how the Bible says it, “Commit to the LORD whatever you do, and your plans will succeed.”(Proverbs 16:3)

Just like any endeavor, love and relationship is a hard work and it will only succeed if you commit it to GOD. Because GOD is LOVE. And Love is God.

And I have learned that Love is not a noun, but a verb. (Thanks to Andy Stanley!)

So every time Ethelie and I are having those difficult times, and we just want to give up, we just always go back to THE CROSS and to how we started…

How Jesus has saved us from our sins, our unhappy past, and our desperate situations…

How God has perfectly orchestrated our relationship… And it was an answered prayer.

How the Holy Spirit has guided us and given us love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness and faithfulness no matter what situation we are in.

That Jesus is our rock foundation, individually and us together. That even if we lose each other. That even if God will say, “You can no longer be together. I have different plans for both of you.” We will still be okay. We will still accept the ultimate WILL of GOD.

That love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. (1 Corinthians 13:4-6)

That love always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. (1 Corinthians 13:7)

I love Ethelie because I just do. And it’s a choice I have to make every single day of my life. And if God will let me, I will love her for the rest of my life. Because I want to. I would love to. And I will always choose to. But God has the last say to ‘us’ and about ‘us’. For now, let me prepare myself for that very special day we’ll seal that commitment to Him. And we’ll seal it with a KISS. That will take a lot of prayers, I know. Through God’s grace, it will happen…

And yes, we’re not ‘doing it’ not because we have to or we’re obliged to. But because we love God.
Because He loved us first – no matter how undeserving we are. We can only be grateful.

In a worldly world we’re living in, it’s a weird kind of relationship. In the eyes of God, that’s what’s pleasing to Him. And that’s all that matters. (That’s not meant to condemn anyone! Begin with God’s love, you’ll understand why.)

Again, love is not magical. It is an action verb you have to do. A lifestyle you have to develop. A choice you have to commit to it’s Creator — and that is GOD.

And lastly, His most amazing and unmagical love story (because it is real) is written for you on this,

“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8)

You know what, that’s the ultimate kind of love God wants you to experience, when you accept it – Love + Life will never be the same again. Are you ready for this?

PS. Happy Unmagical Seven, Babe. You’re a such a wonderful gift I know I don’t deserve. And that makes me so grateful. I Love You So.

Happy Three to Forever

Happy Three to Forever with Dads and Ethelie. Let this video give you a glimpse of how we started and tell you how God has perfectly orchestrated the love we have right now. Without GOD, we wouldn’t have US.

This is God’s promise to us and He is amazingly faithful with His promise.

“I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you. I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.” – Ezekiel 36:26

God’s love is awesome!

*This was my 3rd Monthsary surprise to her, tomorrow (August 13, 2012) would be our 4th Month. Awesome! 🙂