PRAYER - JUST DO IT!!

"Why be persistent? How come my answers sometimes don't come immediately? Why should I keep on praying when the answer doesn't come in my time table?"

Keep on praying when there's no answer, because persistent praying helps me focus on God. God wants me to remember that He alone is the source of my answers to prayer. The Bible says in Philippians 4:19, "And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus."

God wants us to see Him alone as the source of our needs. When we have to pray about something over and over, who do we look to? We look to the Lord. Persistent prayer focuses our attention. Have you discovered that we like to look to everybody else to solve our problem except the Lord? We look to our friends, we look to our family, we look to counselors, we look to the government, we look to anybody -- except the Lord. God often delays an answer to force you to focus on Him.

Persistent praying also clarifies my requests. A delayed answer a lot of times gives me time to clarify what do I really want. Time separates deep longings from mere whims. I've prayed for things and sometimes during the delay decided I didn't really want them after all.

God delays the answer to test you. It's not that He doesn't want to give it to you, He wants to know if you really want it. Do you want it enough to keep praying? Jeremiah 29:13 "You will seek me and find me when you seek for me with all your heart." Nothing worthwhile is accomplished with half-hearted prayers.




Persistent prayer will prepare me for the answer. God usually wants to do more than you are praying for. Surprise! God wants to do it greater and He needs time to get you ready for it. There are changes God wants to make in you. Ephesians 3:20 "Now glory be to God, who by his mighty power at work within us, is able to do far more than we would ever dare to ask or even dream of infinitely beyond our highest prayers, desires, thoughts, or hopes."

People say, "Prayer changes things." Of course we know it is God who does the changing. But prayer changes you. And God is more interested in you than He is in circumstances. Often as soon as you've made the change in your life the doors of heaven open and the answer comes. Expect a miracle.

Persistent praying strengthens and develops your faith. A mark of maturity is how long can you wait. Galatians 6:9 "Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up." God’s saying, "Hang on! Be patient! The harvest is coming. Don't give up! Look up!"

We want to encourage you to take time daily focusing on God, reading His word and talking to Him. We liken this to dating, in which we spend time with someone to get to know them better, to learn more about her/him. Likewise, we spend time with God daily to know Him better.


- rick warren's purpose driven life website - article..

ROBERT JOHN PADDOCK, a miracle of GOD's love

I wonder if I would have the same faith if I dont have my husband in my life, Mr. Robert John Paddock.. Perhaps not or probably, yes.. but what I know, GOD works perfectly in His own mysterious ways. So, the burning desire of knowing GOD is my way of praising THE ONE who has made it all possible. He is my miracle from GOD.. my miracle of LOVE..

Why impossible? because I met him through an internet site.. I was very much brokenhearted and trusting someone you met in an internet site was absurd.. However, he was sooo sure of me. I would always question him for being so sure that we belong together so I would always wonder what made him so sure. Then he came to see me in Dubai to prove how sure he was.. He would always describe to me through our chatting that He has never been so sure about something and it never felt so right..

I went through a lot of patches while i was trying to know him.. even tried to PUSHED ROB away in my SO-CALLED LIFE then.. but one thing that made me realized that HE WAS TELLING THE TRUTH.. he has showed me an UNCONDITIONAL LOVE..

1 Corinthians 13:4-8 (New International Version)

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. 6Love does not delight in evil
but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always
hopes, always perseveres.

Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease;
where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is
knowledge, it will pass away.


I was surprised how ROB has showed me his passion to have me as his wife, almost exactly as the passage describe.

IT WAS ALL PERFECT TIMING OF GOD.. me and rob were both mending a broken heart - both from our past loves and even our faith to GOD.

I always knew that there is SOMEONE who is destined to love me.. but i never knew it was this AMAZING..

Until then GOD'S love never ceases to amaze me.. never doubt GOD'S MIRACLE WAYS of getting my attention.. it was more of GOD's love to me that made me realize that i need to love ROB more. I believed that GOD has finally tuned in to my prayers so he has given ROB to fulfill my dreams. However as I always have gratitude to people I owe, I realized I owe GOD big time now. So he truly got my attention.

I finally found the real meaning of my life, not through ROBERT JOHN PADDOCK, but through JESUS CHRIST, my savior because of his undying love for me and promised me an eternal life.



Because of FAITH, I married him... FAITH TO JESUS' love and faith that ROB's love to me is the same of JESUS.. so I did not doubt when ROB asked me to marry him only after 6 months of chatting and knowing each other...

Robert's perseverance to have me as his wife paid of, and at the same time, i realized JESUS' love and perseverance to bring me back as a child of GOD has also paid of..

Robert has forgiven my past and loving me the same as I have not committed any sins to him. AMAZINGLY, I realized now that it was the same as GOD loves me.

SO I GIVE BACK ALL THE GLORY TO GOD.. until then I NEVER LOOK BACK, I committed to DEVOTE MY TIME AND EFFORT TO GOD'S GLORY, by following JESUS CHRIST ways and by loving my husband, ROB...

ROB belongs to CHURCH OF ENGLAND but never a devoted follower. However, as he believe on the same way that it was all the works of GOD who has made it possible for us to be united (millions of women are there to find a husband on the internet), PRAISE GOD that he is now PRAYING and HONORING GOD's works in our lives as a married couple.. I told one friend this morning that truly GOD has planned all of this things that is happening in my life. he has given me a husband who is very loving and very understanding, so that when I finally choose to believe in CHRIST, I will never get lost again.

so its no longer US, but with JESUS CHIST AS THE CENTER OF OUR RELATIONSHIP, we will forever be grateful for GOD's GLORY.. and no more pain in the past or our future will always bother us... because from the start, we honor GOD'S GLORY in our lives.. and until the end of times..

an angel in disguished

Not so sure if its my business or not, but TSINA at the age of 28, still does not know how to cook?

Remembering our Dubai days together, we spent few months in the same rented house and spent hours chatting about life.. of course, she's one of those who introduce me to WENTWORTH MILLER, the star of Prison Break. It was at the hype of the first season, and we finished watching the borrowed DVD for 2 days i think or less.. We parted being housemates when her brother came to DUBAI, but it started an amazing friendship even if we dont see each other.. However.. I dont remember her cooking anything.. hmmm..

An amazing turnout of events, she decided to go back to Manila for good.. Respecting her boundaries, she promised to stay in contact.. Of course, with networking sites, and even blogger sites, she's everywhere. One time I asked her to register in a networking site where i met my husband, she immediately answered that theres no need coz she had 5 networking sites that time.

To make this blog shorter and the story even shorter.. we continue to stay in contact while i was a struggling OFW in Dubai.. Until a blessing of marriage has been finally revealed to me by GOD came as a surprise to all my friends, including tsina... Me and my husband decided to celebrate our union in MANILA and who else is there to support me with all the brouhaha, TSINA..

JANUARY of 2010 when she finally invited me in her newly found HOUSE OF WORSHIP, the Christ Commission Fellowship. As I have been always a believer of her taste, I immediately develop my faithfulness with the church. so we are again HOUSEMATES.. but now for the WORSHIP HOUSE OF GOD.. our felloship church, CCF.. guess, that is just meant to be...

As I developed my faith and journey with my walk with JESUS CHRIST, her usual unselfish act with me was to share a MINISTRY which she felt was her calling. A ministry called GLORIOUS HOPE.. ministering our brothers and sisters with HUHAHA.. short for habits, hang up and other one i really cant remember.. but its a ministry in helping people overcomsing their struggles in life.. people who are depressed, addicted or abused...

Finally, we both realized that the program we attended today was not just a ministry that we wanted to get active with, but the program that will also UNLEASH OUR HABITS, HANG UP.. and the other H, i dont remember.. sorry..

Fortunately, CCF believes that there are a lot of issues in our lives that will influence our relationship with GOD. ISSUES that continous to manifect as a recurrent sins.... so thats why, we both humbly admitted.

TODAY, I felt I owe her a very exciting part of my journey with CHRIST. She has shared with me a MINISTRY that is more than enough to help me HEAL, and most especially develop my SPIRITUALITY to sustain my FAITH with LORD JESUS CHRIST. that I think is just the most precious gift i have ever received...

THANK YOU TSINA.. FOR BEING A HOUSEMATE IN CHRIST and a loving friend who shared her weaknesses but also her forgiveness in the realities of LIFE.. an UNSELFISH ACT of introducing me to my BURNING FIRE FAITH as she fondly say to me.. without her unselfishness, i would have not felt this desire to be with JESUS if I did not have CCF to back me up.. and i thank her for this unselfishness..

I did not realized that SHE IS ONE OF MY ANGEL on EARTH.. I never experienced any problems with her since I met her - worked with her as well as a receptionist in Dubai Airport Hotel.. has never judge me for any of my mistakes.. UNSELFISH as she is to everyone, she has immediately shared with me all her blessings - CCF and GLORIOUS HOPE..

and after knowing her 5 years, I ddnt realize that SHE IS A GOOD COOK.. I have in mind to call her ANGEL, she cooked for me a very tasty MUSTARD SAUCED - CHICKEN WINGS.. (i dont know what she calls it).. GALENG MO TALAGA LORD, even in FOOD you amazed me and TSINA with your undying LOVE for us..

to GOD BE ALL THE GLORY..

MASK of a Faith Discipler

I have heard once that FAITH is a choice... wonder what happens to FAITH healers.. have you encountered a FAITH healer that doesnt have a faith? does that mean only by having faith, a person can just heal?

If i follow what I learned since i was a child.. me and my siblings were taught to have FAITH in ourselves because we are the only one who can protect ourselves from kids who might bully us. Mom said not to return back home crying without protecting ourselves... So i always wear this mask on my face that would pretend im stronger than anybody else, so luckily, i wasnt bullied... Then when i grew up, i still wore that mask that would make my friends believe that im strong.. and I had faith in myself.

Faith to believe that I can do what my heart desire.. so after studying, i ddnt become a doctor coz i studied a course where most of my friends are because i have so much faith in myself that I do not need a degree that will help me in the future... I had more faith with my friends more than anything that can help my future.

So job experienced didnt stop me from using the mask i remembered i should keep on using to gain approval, interest and attention from peers, colleagues and from BULLIES that i may encounter... From the numerous careers i had, more acquaintances and more cicle of friends added to my list of people who had an impression that I am frontliner and a public speaker... and Ive used that mask to cover up the flaws.. From the mask that i used when i was a child, did not cover only my fears, but also frustrations and pains of shameful acts... the mask that expressed more of my cover up.. the strongholds of the wrong interpretation of FAITH AT ONES SELF.. conceitedness, vanity, arrogance, envy and more.. in short, a LOSER..

After 36 years, there was someone who had knew that it was there all along.. Almost a stranger to me, He has seen too much of the mask that He wanted to take it out from me.. Maybe He had a hard time at first, because this mask has given me too much comfort... the comfort i believed was the only cure to keep my sanity in this world..

Lord Jesus has found my cover up.. He has unleased the mask and after that happened, i could see that a face shouldnt be worn with cover up.. I felt that it should have been as natural as you were just been born... hmmm... I have been born again..

Holy is the Lord who has revealed my purpose and now the MASK has never been worn.. In fact, the loving peers admitted of not wanting to have the mask unleash...Too selfish to believe that I still need my MASK to acquire their approval, interest and attention... anyway, they said, these are the people who love me for who i was..

My FAITH? Faith has also been unleashed.. because it has been covered with more FAITH of JESUS LOVE AND MERCIFUL GLORY.. the faith of ones self has been simply changed to FAITH to JESUS.. It is no longer I, but JESUS CHRIST (Galatians).

With God's promise as written in John 3:16, Jesus has revealed that if i follow this FAITH with HIM, I do not need to work long hours and keep on changing careers.. the rewards of my TRUE FAITH will give me this experience beyond imagination.. as he gives his LIFE to us, JESUS CHRIST is the only TRUE FAITH HEALER...

And so, I choose to be in this FAITH.. without a mask.. all natural and no-approval fee from peers... no healing needed, immediate HEALTHY BOOSTER of LIFE.. and this choice has made miracles without hurting the people i care and love.. and a career he might give me for FREE without going back to school.. ive always wanted, to become a DOCTOR (PEDIATRICIAN)..

the strongholds has become weak with the kind of FAITH with LORD JESUS.. no longer a LOSER inside me but a HEALTHY SOUL who is struggling to become a better person..




Now i begin a new life with this FAITH with LORD JESUS... I still need the peers ive always depend on, however no longer needs their approval and interest, I depend on the destiny that GOD has revealed to me.. As Jesus fulfilled his duty on earth.. He was a discipler of FAITH, I decided to truly follow His calling.. I decided to become a FAITH DISCIPLER like HIM and by his GRACE, he will use me to become an instrument of showing the purposes of their lives..

Let this leap of faith show how an all-natural mask free life could unleash the shameful ways of SINS.. to GOD be all the GLORY..

FAITH SEEKING FOOD SERIES 1: QUIET TIME

this series will aim to show the different nourishing elements to fill up our FAITH. First of the series is having a QUIET TIME. I will never realized that a QUIET TIME gives a spiritual meaning on my walk with CHRIST, if I would have not been a CHRISTIAN... thought I could pray anywhere and anytime I want.. thought I could just tell him directly all my prayer request and repent my sins so thats it.. its definitely more than what I expected.. It needs consistency, commitment and most especially your undying faith for LORD JESUS.. Remember we want to SUSTAIN our LOVING FAITH by being CHRIST-LIKE (Galatians)

How can i even dare to say im REBORN and repenting my sins, when my sins are RECURRENT and just plain ASK FOR FORGIVENESS from CHRIST.. How can I say I love him when I cannot even sustain my FAITH.

Quiet Time is a special appointment with GOD that will soon become a daily routine. Of course, it is definitely a FAITH-SUSTAINING-ACTIVITY as you will have the privilege to have an appointment with GOD.. In fact, from Rick Warren's How to have meaninful time with God, says that you need to have the four essentials elements of a good quiet time:

Start with the proper attitudes. - I commit to do this not to primarily favor my prayer request but to spend more QUALITY TIME WITH THE FATHER.. As I always have time to watch my daily favorite TV SHOWS, it is just right to give OUR FATHER TIME to praise, worship and just to simply listen to HIS WORDS (by reading the BIBLE).

Select a specific time. As Rick suggested to have reverence, Coming into the presence of the Lord is not like going to a football game or some other form of entertainment". It also needs to be consistent so therefore I commit to the following scheduled QUIET TIME with GOD, the following appointments are such a privilege and honor

WEEKDAYS MORNING : 9:00 - 9:30 AM (MANILA TIME)
EVENING : 11:00 - 11:30 PM

WEEKENDS MORNING : 10:00 - 10:30 AM (MANILA TIME)
EVENING : 11:00 - 11:30 PM



Choose a special place. THE LIVING AREA of our house. All bedrooms seems to have a lot of disturbance so i ought to following Rick's necessary pointers here.
where you can pray aloud without disturbing others;
where you have good lighting for reading (a desk, perhaps);
where you are comfortable

Follow a simple plan. Rick mentioned about following three items for my planned quiet times:
A Bible
A notebook for writing down what the Lord shows you, and for making a prayer list. I never had a journal so I will probably need one now as to keep track of my prayers and a progressive prayers are also suggested.
A hymnbook - sometimes you may want to sing in your praise time (see Colossians 3:16)... for this, i will just need to open the youtube for worship songs with lyrics..

Now, there are two important REMINDERs that RICK WARREN has initiated.

1. Wait on God (Relax). Be still for a minute; don't come running into God's presence and start talking immediately. Follow God's admonition: "Be still and know that I am God." (Psalm 46:10; see also Isaiah 30:15; 40:31) Be quiet for a short while to put yourself into a reverent mood.

2. Pray briefly(Request). This is not your prayer time, but a short opening prayer to ask God to cleanse your heart and guide you into the time together. Two good passages of Scripture to memorize are:

"Search me, OGod, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting." (Psalm 139:23-24; see also 1 John 1:9)

“Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in Your law [the Word] ." (Psalm 119:18; see also John 16:13)

My sister of faith told me that she has done a progressive QUIET TIME, and I think I would like to follow what she is doing:

MONDAYS : MY SELF PRAYER REQUEST
TUESDAYS : MY HUSBAND AND MOTHER AND SISTERS PRAYER REQUEST
WEDNESDAYS : MY RELATIVES PRAYER REQUEST
THURSDAYS : MY FRIENDS PRAYER REQUEST
FRIDAY : MY NEIGHBORS AND COUNTRYMEN PRAYER REQUEST
SATURDAY : THE SICK AND STRUGGLING IN FAITH
SUNDAY : WORLD PRAYER REQUEST

Psychologists tell us that it usually takes three weeks to get familiar with some new task or habit; it takes another three weeks before it becomes a habit. The reason why many people are not successful in their quiet times is because they have never made it past that six-week barrier. For your quiet time to become a habit, you must have had one daily for at least six weeks.

If you miss a meal, it does not mean that you should give up eating because you're inconsistent. You simply eat a little more at the next meal and go on from there. This same principle is true with your quiet time.

If you have been convinced that this is what you need to do, would you pray the following:

A PRAYER OF COMMITMENT

"Lord I, MAE PADDOCK, will commit myself to spending a definite time starting tomorrow, APRIL 14, 2010 (morning and evening) with You every day, no matter what the cost. I am depending on Your strength to help me to be consistent."

Having quiet time everyday will definitely sustain my FAITH and once it gets into my routine, I know I shall make my FATHER appreciate his CHILD..

aS I commit to my FAITH, I depend on your STRENGTH that having a QUIET time will give me the privilege to be your CHILD, my FATHER..