Thankful Thursday

‘Jesus looked at them and said, “With man it is impossible, but not with God. For all things are possible with God.”’ ~ Mark 10:27 (ESV)

This week theme is perfect for me. I praise God for how HE works with Christians all over the world and today HE used this Thankful Lady host to encourage me once more that ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE WITH GOD.

I needed to hear this today.

"Remember: never give up on a dream – be patient – as you know: All things are possible with God"

And thank you so much for telling me that Iris. God bless you on your photography.

- This past few days I started worrying about the money we are going to use in Mission's conference in Macau and honestly I worry so bad. I think of how huge the money needed and I just couldn't imagine how are we going to support ourselves.We've been thinking of fund raisings and extra income jobs but still I know it will not suffice.

But right now-I am reminded that ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE WITH GOD, and it has long been our dream to go out of the country, do mission work and this is the start of that dream.

I am ashamed actually of forgetting that there is nothing too difficult for God and that I just needed to TRUST HIM MORE than I TRUST HIM NOW.

THANK YOU LORD FOR THE PROVISION THAT IS ON OUR WAY NOW!!!!

for more thankful souls, visit Iris site.

Excited and Afraid

God has already confirmed to us that he is giving us new direction this year. My husband and I are pretty much excited about it. This February as we attend the International Teams East Asia Regional Conference, I know in my heart that this will be the start.

Are we going out on a mission already? Out of the country? Long term? Where?

That has yet to be answered.

And I tell you, I am excited and afraid too. I guess my being afraid of the changes that may take place will help me cling to my Lord even more. That fear will drive me to move even closer into the hands of God.

There's something going on in my heart right now. I just don't know how to say it.

I already told hubby that for this year I'm not gonna handle any ministries in the church, even the scholarship program which I spearheaded will likely be taken off my hands-that is if someone from my church has a burden and is willing to take the responsibility.

I just want to be closer with God now. I just hope I'm doing the right thing.

Lift Up Your Head

Today's Scripture

"Lift up your heads…that the King of glory may come in" (Psalm 24:7, AMP).

Today's Word from Joel and Victoria

Are you ready for God to come in and fight your battles? Then it’s time to lift up your head. It’s time to get a vision of yourself rising higher. See, your life is going to follow your vision. You can’t stay focused on defeat and expect to move forward in victory. But when you lift your head, when you focus on the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords, your focus is in the right place. You are setting yourself up to be a candidate of God’s blessing and favor.

How do you lift your head? By thinking higher thoughts. By speaking God’s Word. By seeing yourself the way God sees you. That means if you’re sick, you’ve got to start seeing yourself well. If you’re struggling in your finances, start seeing yourself with more than enough. You may have major obstacles, but see yourself rising above them. If you will lift up your head, then the Lord mighty in battle will come in. And when God shows up, every adversity will be turned to victory! Every battlefield will be turned to a blessing field, and you will live the abundant life He promised to you!

A Prayer for Today

Father in heaven, I choose to lift my head, to lift my thoughts, words, and actions to be in agreement with You. Thank You for fighting my battles and for leading me into victory. I love You and bless Your holy name. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

Source : Joel Osteen Ministries

Thankful Thursday

I am quite excited for this Thankful Thursday post because this is my first for this year and I hope I won’t miss any for this year. And to start with

1. I am thankful for God’s word ALWAYS assuring us that HIS PLANS FOR US is always the BEST. I thank God that I can always come to HIS WORD when I need support, comfort or peace. The last quarter of 2008 has been very rough for me and my husband but I thanked GOD because HE KEEPS US STRONG.

2. I thank God for giving us new direction for this year. Whatever and wherever that direction maybe I know He will be with us. I know in my heart He is bringing us close to what our purpose is. Our first trip outside the country this coming February to attend a Regional Mission’s Conference is a clear indication that indeed HE is giving us new direction.

3. I thank God for the HEALTH of our whole family, hubby’s side and me. My dad is turning 72 years old tomorrow and he’s healthy and strong. Praise God for that.

My list can go on and on but over all I am just thankful for what the Lord has given me, for my life, for my job, for my hubby, for the opportunities to SERVE HIM, for friends and for provisions. For more thankful souls visit Iris site.

“Oh give thanks unto the LORD for HE is good! For His mercy endures forever.”
1 Chronicles 16:34

Under The Bridge

I recently chance upon this video on you tube.Naomi and Rachel were youth missionaries from UK and they stayed in our church for months helping people under the bridge. They uploaded this video.





I wanted to write updates on the people about the video but not sure though how, but then let me try it ;

The girl who is being weighed is still underweight, she is still so skinny but they don't live there anymore.

The little boy eating with spots in his skin is not so like that now, he's clean and he is so cute!

The other boy who smiles so wide (we call him alalay) is now studying and is in grade 2.And he's doing good in school.

Another girl from that "under" is also now a scholar of the church.

And hubby is one of that guy who cuts the hair of these kids during hygiene day.

The guy who teach under the bridge is Byron, one of the staff in our church too and he's the one who discovered/befriended the people living there.

I think at least 7 families have been uprooted from under the bridge and is now leaving in a blue house, they sell fishballs on the street and they do have changed a lot.

But It is still a long long way to go.

Our church is still doing ministries for the urban poor and if you guys want to help you may do so by contacting Fishnets at International Teams Philippines at 632. 832.5142 or you can visit the website at www.itphilippines.org.

Or you may contact LJBC Global Ministry too at 632.831.5297.

Happy New Year!

Happy new year everyone!

The Abadianos had a very wonderful new year.

And we are so thankful for the past year, for God's provisions for all our needs.

This year, we face it with new HOPE and new STRENGTH as God gives us new DIRECTION in our ministries and in our lives.

Hoping you all had a wonderful start of the year too!

Twice the joy..

Got this in my email this morning and I am so glad I did. I strongly believe God will bless us double next year. Earlier this month, He has confirmed to us that He is giving us new direction and I know moving on to a new path is not as easy as it sounds so I am so happy to have receive HIS promise of help and guidance before we journey on to that new direction. Read on..


Dear Raquel,

Without a doubt, the last few weeks of December is one of my favorite times of the year!

The end of a year and the cold winter season always serve to remind me to focus on what really matters in life. We worship God by celebrating the birth of Christ. We create lasting memories as we spend unforgettable moments with family and loved ones. We reflect on all that God has done in our lives over the past year. And we look forward to an even greater level of the promises of God in the year to come!

More than any other time, Christmas and New Year's are filled with hope, love, joy, peace and promise. There's a life lesson for us to learn in all of this. During the holiday season, challenges, difficulty and problems may still surround you, but if you will take a moment every day to focus on God and all the ways He's blessed you, you can take your life to a new level, higher than ever before.

Isaiah 61:7 promises that instead of shame and trouble, God will double the inheritance of His people and they'll be filled with everlasting joy.

This is God's promise to you: double for your trouble, or as I like to call it, TWICE the LIFE! A "double portion" of God's goodness, a "double portion" of His favor and wisdom on your life. That is our prayer for you in 2009.
It's time for you to trust God for the destiny that the enemy has tried so hard to convince you was impossible. It's time to believe God for the unimaginable. It's time to move beyond your past. If you've been hurt, it's time to forgive. If you've been discouraged, it's time to put on a garment of praise and experience the joy of the Lord. If you've been worried and afraid, it's time to have faith like never before in the provision and purposes of God. It's time to live with confidence that God wants to give you a blessed and prosperous future in every area of your life!

The power of God's promises and His love for you is so much stronger than the pain of your past. Victoria and I know this in our hearts. God wants you to use your troubles as a springboard into your future. Your troubles are what God often uses to take you to a new, higher level of living. This is what is so great about our God. He takes any trouble we have and says, "I will give you double the inheritance for your trouble." Twice the joy, twice the fulfillment, twice the impact . . . twice the life!"..........................................

_______________________________________________

The email is from Joel & Victoria Osteen ministries. I believe God has just used them to encourage me, to keep on moving on and be excited for the new year!

MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A BLESSED NEW YEAR EVERYONE!!!

Living Under the Rain of God

God longs for us to be like a well-watered garden, flourishing, full of joy, always in blossom, even during times of famine. In the Bible, the prophet Elijah experienced an extreme drought for three and half years. Even though his circumstances could have easily kept him discouraged, he activated His faith through praising God and thanking Him for all He had done. It wasn’t long before the heavens opened up and provided rain for the people in the land.

When you are in a dry spell, decide to be like Elijah and continue to give God praise. The key to staying flourished and keeping vitality in our lives during dry times is to send up praise. By praising God at all times, what happens naturally with rain accumulating in a cloud will be the same spiritually in our lives. When you keep sending up praise, that cloud, like a rain cloud, can only hold so much before it releases and comes bursting down. It’s a cloud of God’s blessing raining down favor, keeping you protected, giving you good breaks, and making sure you are always in blossom.

When times grow difficult and thoughts of “It’s never going to change” come into your mind, that is when it’s time to switch over into praise and say, “Father, I want to thank You that You’re changing things in my favor.” Remember, God has promised to prosper us even in the desert!

Source : Joel Osteen Ministries (devotionals)

Jesus is still the reason for the season

May all of us have a meaningful Christmas! and as we celebrate let's not forget the reason behind all this celebrations.Got this in my inbox days ago and thought it is something good to share.

*****************************************************************
JESUS is Better than Santa

Santa lives at the North Pole.
JESUS is everywhere.

Santa rides in a sleigh
JESUS rides on the wind and walks on the water.

Santa comes but once a year
JESUS is an ever present help.

Santa fills your stockings with goodies
JESUS supplies all your needs.

Santa comes down your chimney uninvited
JESUS stands at your door and knocks.. and then enters your heart.

You have to stand in line to see Santa
JESUS is as close as the mention of His name.

Santa lets you sit on his lap
JESUS lets you rest in His arms.

Santa doesn't know your name, all he can say is "Hi little boy or girl, What's your name?"
JESUS knew our name before we did. Not only does He know our name, He knows our address too. He knows our history and future and
He even knows how many hairs are on our heads.

Santa has a belly like a bowl full of jelly
JESUS has a heart full of love.

All Santa can offer is HO HO HO
JESUS offers health, help and hope.

Santa says "You better not cry"
JESUS says "Cast all your cares on me for I care for you".

Santa's little helpers make toys
JESUS makes new life, mends wounded hearts, repairs broken homes and builds mansions.

Santa may make you chuckle but
JESUS gives you joy that is your strength.

While Santa puts gifts under your tree
JESUS became our gift and died on the tree.

It's obvious there is really no comparison.
We need to remember WHO Christmas is all about.

We need to put Christ back in Christmas.
Jesus is still the reason for the season.

Detox Your Mind

Just wanna share this devotional from Joel Osteen Ministries :)
******************************************************************************** Today's Scripture

“Above all else guard your heart for it affects everything you do” (Proverbs 4:23).

Today's Word from Joel and Victoria

These days, we hear a lot about detoxing our physical bodies. Bacteria can build up. Pesticides and chemicals can get into our system. Experts recommend that you go through a deep cleansing periodically and stay away from what is harmful so you can rid yourself of these toxins.

In the same way, there are all kinds of toxins that can build up in our minds. When we go around dwelling on the wrong thoughts, thinking about what we can’t do, how somebody hurt us, or how we’ll never get ahead; those thoughts are toxic. And toxic thoughts left alone become like toxic waste. It gets into your heart, and eventually, contaminates your whole life. It affects your self-image, your attitude, and your level of confidence. That’s why the Bible tells us that we have to guard our hearts and minds above all else because if your mind gets polluted, your whole life is going to be polluted.

Make the decision today to go on a fast from negative, self-defeating thoughts. Cleanse your mind from what is harmful and fill yourself with thoughts of faith and victory. As you do, those good thoughts will strengthen and empower you to live the good life He has planned for you!

A Prayer for Today

Father in heaven, I come to You today willing to let go of anything that would hold me back from Your great promises. I choose to guard my thoughts and fill my heart with Your Word. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.