My Love for Cooking

I have not instantly recognized my passion for cooking in the same way people recognize me as an epitome of a " not-really-a-choosy-eater". As I look back and trace my roots, I can now conclude that I got the cooking genes from my mother and grandmother. But, in all honesty, I know they are way better than I am. My dream of becoming a zealous homemaker started when I was eight years old. I love to doodle things inside the house. The basic household chores and cooking are my helpful sources of therapy especially when I am feeling down and alone in the house. Preparing salads and other healthy dishes is my way of investing in a healthy lifestyle. The word of God says that we need to take care of our body because it is the temple of the Holy Spirit. Also, my love for cooking opens the door for more meaningful fellowships with brethren, friends and family.

 

A Victorious Decade After Saying "I Do!"

Our little friendship that sparked 17 years ago paved the way to a marriage that is made in heaven but being relished on an earthly plane. We continue to honor God in our relationship amidst the test of time and circumstances. Ten years ago, the sacred vow we made before God, our families, friends and the church will always remind us that God had designed our hearts to love each other as husband and wife. Ten challenging yet fruitful years in marriage is indeed a milestone! It’s been exactly a decade since we made a solemn vow before God and man that we will love each other “for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, until death do us part”. A successful marriage is built on a firm foundation and that foundation is no other than the Lord Jesus Christ. For we confidently believe that God’s love is the foundation of all human relationships. Since day one, we have allowed God to take center stage in our husband-wife relationship. God is continually nurturing us in every facet of this fleeting life. His love, mercy and grace are evident in the continuous existence of this marriage. God has also commissioned us together to be of service to His ministry and glorify Him through our life and testimony. As a married couple, God spoke to us through His Word that we need to level up our giving: worshipping and honoring Him through our financial giving, offering to Him our time, talent and energy and our very life. He enabled us to understand that we have to prioritize Him and pursue things that have eternal value, things that will allow us to strengthen our relationship with God. By His grace, we got promotions in the workplace and Shem finished two graduate degrees in a span of ten years. Also, God granted our desire to own a car and build our dream house that will be used in the ministry we call, “hospitality”. But, who says walking by faith is all bed of roses? Of course not! It is made clear to us through God’s Word that if we want to follow Jesus we need to take up our cross daily. Shem went through a major operation on the 8th year and she survived by God’s healing power. Sim’s minor health problems are taking a backseat and we are continually declaring that he is completely healed. The absence of babies in our union is a battleground. And yet, we always choose to rejoice in every circumstance believing by faith that amidst the difficult times God is still at work and that His purpose and wonderful plans prevail. This year, God impressed upon our hearts that we will desire to be a prayer warrior – winning life’s battles through faith and prayer. In line with this, we designated a space in the attic of the house as our “Prayer Room”. We are currently handling a cell group made up of young couples at Baguio Christian Center and we are continually beefing up our desire to grow more in the Lord and to minister to people by attending the Leaders’ Mentoring Sessions spearheaded by our church pastor. Our simple life is a resonating reflection that God is alive, He is faithful and loving and there is always victory by the power of the resurrected Christ! We will continue to explore the wonder and the power of this special union we share. To God be the glory!

My Blessed and Sweet Graduation and Thanksgiving Celebration

I thought that the final defense of my dissertation was the main event but I was absolutely wrong. When our Graduate School Dean informed me that I was graduating with academic honors (Cum Laude), my heart was overflowing with joy and I could not help shedding tears of joy and thanking the Lord for the awesome thing He has orchestrated. The road to success did not happen overnight and it was never automatic. It's a result of journeying with God on a daily basis and doing things for His glory. God gave me victory through out my three-year journey in the graduate school. It's God who gave me wisdom and strength to hurdle the challenges of being a graduate student. It's hard to figure out things on the day of my graduation but I praise and glorify God for what He has done. I was chosen to represent Graduate School in the candle lighting during the Baccalaureate. And when my name was called as one of the academic awardees, it was truly a glorious moment walking on stage with my beloved husband on my right and my dearest mother on my left. Glory to God! I am always at a loss for words every time I see God's hands at work in my life. He is truly awesome!

Thanksgiving Dinner With My Graduate School Professors - June 10, 2016. Remembering the remarkable journey (UC Grad School). The thanksgiving dinner was attended by special people who were instrumental to this achievement. Medyo sad lang that my immediate family, in-laws and spiritual mentors missed it. It was an opportunity to talk about my testimony that I made it not because of my own wisdom and strength but by the grace and blessings of the Lord. To God be the glory!

External Panel for the First Time

A day before Mothers' Day, I received a text message asking if I can be an external panel to someone who's gonna defend his thesis proposal. It was unexpected and it's funny that I even thought it was sent to me by mistake. I knew it's serious when I got a follow-up text. I got the manuscript a night before the presentation so I really burned the midnight candle in order to catch up and understand the paper. I realized that it's a very challenging job to review someone's work and it entails a passionate heart to give reasonable comments and practical recommendations. To be a panel is to really understand the nitty-gritty of the research and take it as your own. The discussion with my fellow panel members was really healthy and engaging. To God be the glory!

Resource Speaker on Money Matters

It was in high school when they started calling me as "Senate Speaker". At first, I just took things lightly but later on I came to realize that I really wanted to be a powerful speaker - one that inspires and encourages the young minds. It has always been a part of my prayer that God will give me wisdom and boldness every time I am given opportunity to speak before an audience. After finishing Ph.D., my baptism of fire came when I was invited as one of the resource speakers in a career guidance seminar at UC. It's really an honor to speak about money matters to the graduating students. A sense of fulfillment flowed from within. It's my desire and prayer that God will use my new academic degree so I can reach out to more people and churches by sharing inspiring topics about the Lord Jesus Christ, giving, leadership and money matters. To God be the glory!

 

A Sweet Reward

My research paper is likened to bearing a new life from within. Yes, it took me nine challenging months to wrap up my dissertation. The conception stage is quite mind-boggling and it took me a couple of weeks to adjust to my "should be" schedule. As man is required to eat on a daily basis and so am I in working on my research. I am just so blessed to have my husband around and act as my largest and most powerful support system. I got used to a routine that is most academic in real sense. God powered up my faith and my will to survive. And so, labor pains came when I defended the dissertation before my panel members! I just thank God for enabling me to pass with flying rainbow colors! In all these, God is at work and I give Him all the praise, the glory and the honor. It is done! To God be the glory for the birth of this new academic degree!

Servant Leadership

The exciting yet challenging and thought-provoking day in Ph.D life came when I was compelled to stand on my feet and deliver my emotional public lecture before the panel. Emotional in the sense that my tropic, "servant leadership" is dearly close to my heart. For me, Jesus is the greatest model of servant leadership and He is the greatest leader the world has ever known. Two weeks before the public lecture, God has spoken to me through His word that I need to establish my focus and all I have to do is to be still and know that He is God (Psalm 46:10). I have also been reminded with the verse in Isaiah 41:10. On that remarkable day, my family, closest friends and my brethren at Baguio Christian Center united in the Spirit and prayed for the success of my public lecture. I felt in my heart that these people stormed heaven with their prayers and indeed, it worked wonders. When the Dean announced my grade, all I can say is, "thank you Lord for you are so gracious!"