The Call

Interviews are hard for me. I think it's all those questions, and the scrutiny. I hate being examined or measured. So I detested the Test, or so I thought.

As you know, I've gone through the first interview and practical exam (two weeks ago? or maybe three), without confidence really in my performance. And now that I've gone on to "level two", I kind of feel like I might actually have a chance at this.

Anyway, my day started much like any other day, except I woke up at 6AM and I can't get back to sleep even if I tried. I was too excited. So there I was at 6:30, eating breakfast while reading the Bible (can't shake that habit off). And was out at around 7:30 (I really tried slowing down, for real. I looked at myself maybe around ten times in the mirror and then picked another shirt to wear, and then looked at myself for ten more times).

As I was "slowing down", I get a text from (ahem) my sweetest friend. And I remembered that friend as I sat in the car, as I got off, and as I answered the Test (written, thank You). I remember him.

After the Test, I texted, as promised. Thirty minutes later, he called, as promised.

Of all the things we said on the phone after talking for like twenty to thirty minutes, when we hung up, I remember just one thing till now: You called.

It's the little things, these little things that matter. The little things that you do, the little things that you say or don't say -- they matter a LOT to me. And I thank you, from the deepest part of my heart, for making me feel that you got my back, for supporting me, and for just really... caring. Thank you, thank you very much.

If I could spend one day with anyone in this world (including my hollywood crushes), you know I'd spend it with you. Hey you owe me a favor right? *hint hint

Anyway, you know I love being with you (fifteen minutes in the mall is proof).

SO.. I look forward to seeing you on Saturday.

Have a great Friday! :)

So in Love with You

Like the fire
My heart burns with desire

To know you and
Love you more


With all my heart and soul
I seek Your face
With all I am
I long for your embrace

Captivated by Your love
Caught in the arms of my Savior
I lift my heart and hands to You
By Your grace, I know you more and more
Jesus I'm so in love with You


Like the grass
I grow more in love
By the rain of your love
In my life

Deep Throaty Voice

Like the storm
outside my window,
My heart is.
Sleep is far from me
So I prayed


Lord
Calm my fears
An answered pray'r
that's what it is


A sound so dear
A voice that's clear
It's the sound that
I so want to hear
It's your deep throaty voice
that's saying in my ear
"Calm down my dear,
My voice is here"

Sing me to sleep,

Sing me to sleep

Day and Night

I wake up

Open my eyes and stretch my arms

I'm alive again

Thank you Lord

For your grace

I put my trust in You

Let all that love you,

Praise Your name

Bless the Lord, oh my soul,

For He is holy

Your grace and mercy have found me

Oh God You are worthy

I will worship You,

I will worship You, O God,

Day and night

I am weak, Oh Lord

I find strength in You

Everyday

Friends came and went

People hurt my heart

Some stayed, a lot have gone

I go back to start

Through all that has happened

Happy or painful

Oh my Lord,

You were there.

When the storm in my heart

Has gone out of control,

You calmed the raging seas

And held me in your arms and said,

"My child, be still,

Hold my hand and lean on Me

My strength will be with you,

No one can take you away from Me.
Lay it all down on my feet.

I'm here with you,

I'll never let you go."

Day 1: Nothing is More Important than Relationships

From the book "The Relationship Principles of Jesus" by Tom Holladay:

Relationships are painful. Relationships are wonderful. We all live in the drama that plays out between these two truths.

 The book then went on to speak of the relationship of married couple Neal and Robin, which takes a turn that tore their world apart. Robin suffered a brain hemorrhage, and surgery might not be able to make her better.

"Neal's immediate response was simple faith and sacrificial love. He believed that God had a plan even in this dire circumstance, and Neal was committed to love Robin, no matter what it would take."

To cut the story short, Neal nursed Robin: he nurtured her, spoke to her with love, and little by little, he just loved her to unexpected restoration. Robin began to speak haltingly and was able to use her hands and arms again.

The greatest miracle, they say, isn't in the healing (they've seen bodies healed before) but in the love.

The book goes on to say that Jesus, "came to show us how to enjoy a new way of  relating to God and others." "He came to begin a new relationship with you -- a relationship that will strengthen all your relationships" How beautiful and wonderful is that truth?

Jesus teaches us to prioritize relationships. When a teacher of the law asked him the question, "Of all the commandments, which is the most important?"

"The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.' The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’There is no commandment greater than these.”

Jesus' clear answer to this question has the power to take our breath away. By choosing these two commands as the most important of all the Old Testament commands, Jesus tells us how deeply he values relationships. He values our relationship with God, and he values our relationships with each other.

And indeed, how can we live in this world without the Lord and without each other? To be able to commune with God and with people is the best thing that a person can ever experience.

From beginning to end, nothing is more important than relationships. In the beginning, God created you for relationships. He made you to relate to him and to others. Miss out on relationships, and you're missing the core reason for which God put you on this planet.

Truthfully, there are times that we avoid establishing relationships with people for various reasons: to avoid getting hurt, some don't know how to relate, some are happy with just playing by themselves, or some are just plain lazy to establish a connection with people.

I very much agree with Tom Holladay when he says this:

A life without relationships may well be a simpler life, but it is also an empty life. The path to the greatest life possible and the greatest joy possible is found in the priority that Jesus taught us to keep at the top of the list: Place the highest value on relationships. 

As I read on through this book for the next 40 days (or maybe even more), it's my prayer that we make our relationship with the Lord and among ourselves, our highest priority.

May God bless us all!

'Till I see You

Through the pain

Through the hurts

Even when the world is dark

And people left their mark

Help me, Lord,

To rejoice in You

That all the world may see

The beauty of Christ in me

I am nothing on my own

Jesus, make me whole

Use my life,

My shame, my weakness

Use my everything for Your greatness

Make my heart like Yours

Hold my hand,

Guide my feet,

Direct my eyes,

Till I see you, Lord.