A letter to Sheloi, my new friend. My broken, new friend.

Hi, Sheloi.

Thank you for your message.

I want to make a point, Sheloi. But first I want to show you some pictures. I am so excited about these sculptures that I want to share it with you! Come, see!

Beautiful, aren't they? There are more in the website of its sculptor: http://www.kylochua.asia/


Check out that site when you have time. That guy sure have a way with clay. He's such an awesome sculptor!



Anyway...


"Pathetic and broken hearted ex girlfriend, ugly and a loser"


Those are the words you used to describe yourself in your message to me.  Sure, maybe other people would agree with your chosen adjectives. They would look at you and feel "awa."  Or they would shake their heads at you.  But when you walked down the street to Coffeebean where jhapi and I were waiting for you, when you poured out all the tears and hurts in your heart, I couldn't find the pathetic and broken-hearted ugly and a loser ex-girlfriend. I just couldn't find it. 

What I saw in you instead is this:

A lump of clay.

A lump of clay who feels lied to, used and then thrown away. A lump of clay trampled by the thief whose aim is to steal the life in you.  You are being victimized right now as I type this.  Yes, there's that kind of thief. That thief is not a fiction. It's real.

You don't believe me? God said it Himself. Look,

"The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy."

- John 10:10

I believe the devil is not done with you yet. He's probably still furiously making plans to destroy you. First, to torture you with memories. Then fill you with lies that you were never good enough--that you are replaceable by a prettier girl and that no one will ever pick up that used up rag doll. Anymore. Ever.  Then the devil will fill you with anger and bitterness and hopelessness. Until you will be what the devil plans you to be: 

Stolen from.

Killed. 

And destroyed. 

God said it Himself that that's what the devil intends to do.  But the good news is His word didn't end there. Want to hear the rest of His word in that verse? You probably already know it, but c'mon! I've read it too many times and yet I want to read it over and over again because it tasted so sweet in the soul.  Here it goes,

"...I came so they can have real and eternal life, more and better life than they ever dreamed of."

John 10:10, The Message

That's Jesus talking!!! 

So take heart, Sheloi.  Sure, the devil was allowed to go this far to hurt you but only because Jesus knows what He's about to do next in your life. 

See, the word 'NEXT'? I highlighted, "bolded" and underlined it. There's too much promise in that word that I couldn't emphasize it enough!

Aren't you excited, Lump Of Clay???

Yes, you are the lump of clay. 

So, Ms. Lump of Clay, I want you to meet this Potter. This Potter who is more involved in your life than anyone else. This Potter who knew you even before He created you. This Potter who loves you more than you can possibly ever understand.  

Soar, sheloi!!! God wants you to soar. He doesn't want you imprisoned and shackled. 

He wants you free!

The devil tried to destroy you but you know what? No matter how the devil tries to destroy you, know this...even better write this truth in your heart: the lump of clay is in the Master's hands. Firmly in the Master's hands.

God sees you right now the way a potter sees a lump of clay. He is filled with numerous thoughts about you and is probably excited right now to mold you again, more beautiful than ever before and then fill you with life.

I hope to see you again in the future, my new friend. Because I, too, am very excited to see what God is about to do in your life! :) 

All the best, Sheloi! 

And oh, remember the pictures of the beautiful sculptures in the beginning of this blog?

I told you, I was trying to make a point. (Wink!)

P.S.


Imagine God singing this to you. ♥♥♥


Fly by Julianne


♫♪ Oh my if you could only see what I see
see a man full of endless possilibilty...


I wanna see you fly
Don't let anybody else or anything clip your wings
Just soar
Created to be great, you were made for something more...


I want you to be bold
I want you to be strong
and conquer, conquer


If you could only see yourself through My eyes
I see a man who's loved and worth every sacrifice


The promise land is just around the bend
let the wind take your wings and bring you home ♫♪


(Deut 31:6, Eph 2:10)

Prayer Popcorns book club

coffee bean

Jen's one-to-one

Jen and I finished One-to-One today.  One-to-One is a personal discipleship where you discuss spiritual foundation: Salvation, Lordship, Repentance, Baptism, The Bible & Prayer and The Church.

I share my story.

Jen shares hers.

Then we mix our stories with God's story. :)

Both Jen and I are mighty excited with God's activities in our lives and the lives of our family.

Thank you, Lord!!!

Rainy saturday morning at my (not so) secret me-time spot

am on fire this morning...nothing beats talking about God with your family

perfect combination

hearty breakfast

"heartier" conversation

excited about her walk with Christ..

Sweetie, you can't be more excited than God
who's been waiting for you all your life :)

happiest girl

My coffeebean planner

Got na my The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf planner. I don't see a showy journal in thick cover. I see beside my "eyephone" and vanilla tea a black notebook waiting to be filled with not just plans committed to God but stories after stories of God's tried-and-tested faithfulness for the year 2011.

Coffee Bean with Lou

I have been frequenting Coffee Bean which is just a few blocks away from my office so I can get their free planner.

This month I have been spending a lot of time with a good friend of mine at work, Lou-ann.  For me she's an image of pursuing excellence.  I am amazed at her leadership and I hope that the management would one day take notice. 

Lou-Ann

Love my Tomato & Herb Linguine with salted caramel cappuccino

 This is my favorite branch :)

First Date

After Jesus transformed my life, I had my FIRST ever date with my parents both with whom I really didn't have any relationship. I told them about my past and what God did in my life to save me, forgive me and then free me. 


It was a nerve-racking evening, really. To confess everything to your parents? Goodness! Twice I almost backed out. During dinner I was losing it, it was too reality for me. I couldn't confess everything. I was about to excuse myself to go to the bathroom when I noticed my bible in my bag. It was opened on a verse that I highlighted in the past.




"So do not fear, for I am with you..." Isaiah 41:10




I was instantly filled with courage and a strong desire to tell them who is this Jesus that breaks chains and heals lives.

at my favorite me-time place
The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf, Burgos Circle

During coffee, it was now Papa who was losing it. I was afraid his facial veins would pop out from stress and anger as he listened to me confess my story. I was starting to become discouraged when I noticed the fourth chair in our table. It was empty. Its emptiness speaks volumes. 


I remembered I wasn't alone.

The evening ended with a start. 

♫ ♪ This could be the start

Of something new

It feels so right

To be here with you ..oh

And now ... looking in your eyes

I feel in my heart

The start of something new ♫ ♪ 

frap cold encounter

"So what are you reading?"

You really don't know who'd you meet talga. It can be nice to talk to strangers most of the time and listen to their stories. Some can become fast friends. Some can impart lessons like that old lady who shared a table with me at Mcdo. And some can simply ruin your Saturday morning.

Like today.

I was sharing the second level of a coffee shop with a few people who came and went. I was comfortably reading, even doing my bad habit of pulling strands of my hair every now and then that I didn't notice there was no other person there except a European businessman. He suddenly asked me what I was reading. It led to a few small talks, mostly weird stuff about him like how he claims to be a student of life or how he likes sticking needles into his head (I hope he meant acupuncture and nothing weird).

As we talked, I realized that he's sizing me up from head to toe, the kind of stare that misses nothing.

He tossed his business card on the table and kept talking. By then I didn't like anymore the vibe I was picking up.

I raised the book I was reading up to neck-level to: 1. keep him from looking at my breasts and 2. show him the huge MAX LUCADO on the cover of the book. I was hoping that either the gesture or the Christian author would imply something along the lines of, "if you think this is a potential pick up, boy, you're wrong. Dead wrong."

Anyway, he didn't get it. So i quickly rehearsed leave-me-alone lines in my mind. But before I could even have a chance to dismiss him, he asked for my email and number. He got a flat no. He asked why. I simply answered, "Cause I don't give my info to strangers," and I went back to reading in such a manner that the only response is to walk away.

He snatched his card from the table and sharply said, "Ok, then I won't give mine...if you don't like meeting people." For a moment there I thought he'd hurt me (I vaguely remembered we were the only ones there). I thought, mapapaaway pa ata ako ah. I was relieved when he gathered his stuff and stormed downstairs, as if nagdadabog.

I wish there was one person at that time I could've said, "Can you believe the nerve of that guy??" to.

I'm still going back to that place. If by any chance I see him again and he talks to me again, I'll bring out my Bible and tell him the Gospel.