Shine Brightly for Christ

Author Archive

I know it has been ages since we posted an entry.

We have definitely been MIA on updating this blog but don’t fret because we haven’t totally abandoned our page.

If you are not aware, Nicole is currently residing in Virginia,USA at the moment while I on the other hand is halfway across the globe in the sandy place called Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Nicole is finishing up her master’s degree in Speech Language Pathology and I moved to this other side of the world to work as a flight attendant for an international airline called Emirates.

Although we are apart, we hold each other very close to our hearts. And we are always gonna be united by one common bond, our Lord Savior Jesus Christ.

There probably won’t be any blogs coming up soon,as we are currently “under construction.” A major one! By that I mean that the Lord is doing an intensive molding and testing of our faith and character.

A lot of things need to be said and shared. When the right time comes,we will definitely blog all about the trials, struggles, blessings and joy we’ve experienced for the last year.

Until then, please keep us in prayers that we might come out of this victorious and ever closer to the Lord.

 

I have no words to explain right now on how hard I am struggling deep within my heart with regards to my relationship with the Lord and all these worldly desires. The enemy is definitely attacking me on every possible corner.  

Please keep me in your prayers. For the courage to flee temptation and stay faithful to the Lord. 

I know that I am in a season of  my life right now where God is doing all the shaping, polishing, testing and strengthening of my faith. I just have to keep looking up and holding fast to the word. Because this too will pass…

“My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. -2 Corinthians 12:9

I want to be a woman who lives totally abandoned to the first commandment: to love my Lord, my God, with all my heart. I don’t want the reputation that I love God, I don’t want to write songs about loving God, I don’t want to talk about loving God. I want to actually love God. When I close my eyes, I want my heart to move. When I close my eyes and I look at Him, I want to feel alive on the inside. I want to look at Him with a fire in my heart and it’s real.
— Misty Edwards

Just like what Nicole said,we have been MIA in this blog but that doesn’t mean that we are going to abandon this site. Nicole moved to Virginia to pursue her Masters degree (2728 miles away from home) and I moved to Dubai,UAE  to pursue my career as a flight attendant (8330 miles away from home). We are going through a major turning point in our lives where our faith is being tested at the same time. Back at home, we have a home church, we have our Christian friends, we go to bible study every week and we have the comfort of our family. But being place in a new environment where we don’t have all of those I previously mentioned is definitely a challenge. A struggle in itself.

Not only do we have to fight temptations and sins but also all the things that come in between. The feeling of homesickness, adjusting, loneliness, stress and so much more. It is incredibly hard and painful at times. That I sometimes question myself if this is even worth it. But I know that the Lord put me here for a reason. He definitely knows what He is doing.

Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him. . -James 1:12

The Lord is faithful and I know that He will never ever let me go of His sight no matter where I go. Even if it is at the farthest end of the world, He will always be there.

And that I could hold on to the truth that, “My flesh and my heart may fail,but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. -Psalm 73:26”

Please keep me and Nicole in your prayers as we need it more than before.

Matthew 1:21, She will bear a son and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.”

Jesus is a name that actually means “Savior.” The Hebrew Jeshua means “the Lord is Salvation.”

Kari Jobe “I’m Singing”

Only one name lasts forever
Only one fame stands alone
Only one key has an anthem
That goes on and on and on

And I’m Singing to the God who brings redemption to the nations
Kings and oceans bow to Him in praise
And I’m Singing to the God who wrote the book on our salvation
To the One who covers me in grace

I’m Singing

Only one word in the beginning
Only one truth will prevail
Only one love brings you freedom
Only one Man took the nails

Praise, Praise to the Savior
Praise, to the Lamb Of God
Praise, in all of His splendor
Praise, for saving my life

 

 

Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD. -Psalm 27:14

The Lord has been impressing that verse on me for quite some time now.

When he said on Song of Solomon 8:4, “Do not arouse or awaken love until it so desires. He is serious about it, just like He is serious about every thing He commanded us in the bible. But I am a stubborn eager child of His who thinks that I have a better plan. But He is a sovereign GOD who doesn’t have a better plan but the best plan. As I try to pursue it, he did not hesitate on letting me know after every disappointment that I surely can’t win this battle which has been going on for almost 9 months now. Seriously, what was I thinking?

In response to the question, “Should women pursue men?” a youth pastor said, “Don’t chase a man because if you start chasing him, you will have to chase him for the rest of your life.”

Although I was not actively chasing him but in my heart, I was holding on for something that should have not been there in the first place. All the idea of “us” I have formed in my head and thoughts I’ve entertained. Things I initiated instead of waiting for him.

Is that what I want? Do I really want to settle for something like that? That road, certainly leads to misery and heartache.

Although there is no direct answer in the bible on that question (“Should women pursue men?”), God has laid out some pretty clear guidelines on how man and woman should interact with each other. Biblical masculinity and femininity: how we are to carry our God given roles. Not what the world says but what the word of God dictates.

On Genesis, God created the man first (Genesis 2:7) for a reason. He appointed Adam to work on the Garden of Eden and take care of it (Genesis 2:15). Adam is in charged of the garden and it is his duty to supervise the affairs of his God given dominion. It wasn’t after the Lord recognized the need of Adam for a helper that He created the woman from Adam’s rib (Genesis 2:20b-22). In that fashion, the man is to lead and the woman is to submit under the authority of the man (in Eve’s case, Adam is already her husband).

Note: A woman should only submit to her husband alone (Ephesians 5:22 and 1 Peter 3:1A), not to every guy she dates, she likes or she thinks worthy of her submission.

A man is to lead a woman. And if he perfectly knows his God given role, he should not have a hard time figuring that out. He is to actively pursue the woman. He is not passive but initiate things with respect to her purity and protection of her heart.

So ladies, sorry but the whole modern idea on how women should take charge just won’t fly. That is going against the role God has ordained for us to fulfill. No matter how much we like this one guy and thinks he could be the one, if he is not pursuing you, you are setting yourself for a major heartache if you try to control things in your own hand. Besides, if he really is the man God has for you, he would not keep you guessing on what are his intentions towards you. He will let you know, take charge and win you over. It is that simple! Also, by trying to act like men by doing the work for them (being the initiator, asking him out first, etc), we are taking away the chance for these boys to exercise their responsibility to lead. Remember what God said in Proverbs 31: 12 regarding the godly woman, “She brings him good, not harm, all the days of her life.”

Note: Preach this to myself.

As for my situation, I will continue to lift it up to the Lord. Because surely, I know that God doesn’t want me to settle for second best. As the Lord said on Psalm 27:4, “You have to wait for me, be strong and take heart and wait for me.”

Go measure the heavens with your span;
go weigh the mountains in the scales;
go take the ocean’s water and calculate each drop;
go count the sand upon the sea’s wide shore;
and when you have accomplished all of this,
then you can tell how much He loves you!
He has loved you long!
He has loved you well!
He will love you forever!

C. H. Spurgeon

So one thing I am completely sure of, His love for me will never change. Nothing I ever do will make Him love me any less.

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. -Hebrew 13:8

One thing I ask Lord, this is what  I seek; that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon THE BEAUTY OF THE LORD and to seek him in his temple.

Psalm 27:4

My heavenly father, it is my desire that I live all the days of my life exalting and magnifying your Holy name. That I may boast on nothing else but the cross. For you alone is most worthy of my praise. And nothing on earth and on this world is more beautiful than you.

O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! -Psalm 8:1


Mercy falls from Your heart down on me
Glory streams from Your face so lovely
A million words could not describe
How marvelous Your perfect light

I adore You
I will sing it with all my heart
I adore You
I love everything You are

That my heart, beats to the rhythm of Your heart
That my eyes focus on Your beautiful eyes
A million tongues could not express
How beautiful Your holiness

MY LIFE IS YOURS AND WILL BE FOREVER
MY LOVE IS YOURS

-Phil Wickham, I adore you

By Ben Cantelon

There is no place I would rather be than in your presence
Even in this wilderness I seek for your direction

I’m calling, I’m longing for more of you

I’m running, I’m running after you
Cause no one else will ever do
My heart is set on you

King of glory your my great reward, my one desire
Only you can satisfy my soul, please take me higher

I’m calling, I’m longing for more of you

I’m longing, I long to see your face
to feel the warmth of your embrace
I’m running after you

You are my reward
And its you I’m living for, take all that I am for I am yours

In response to Emman’s beautiful poem.

Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD. -Psalm 27:14

When God says wait, He is not trying to be a kill joy. He is rather preparing you for something that is beyond what you can imagine.

Ladies, do not just casually give your heart to every guy you date. Quit dating without a purpose. Look to God first,delight in His ways and He will give you the desires of your heart (Psalm 37:4).

Gentlemen, do not take from these women something that is not meant for you. Guard their heart, respect and love them as your sister in Christ.  Put away all your selfish and childish ways and start living like a  real man (1 Corinthians 13: 11).

Wait for him

Wait for the guy that will pursue you for the rest of your life

the kind of guy that reminds you everyday how beautiful you are

The one that knows your worth

and will never ever take you for granted


Wait for the guy who will be your very best friend

The kind of guy who accepts all your flaws and imperfections

The one who knows your vulnerable side

And strives to protect you all the days of his life


Wait for the guy that always makes you feel loved

The kind of guy who wants to show you off to the world

The one that fills the gap between your fingers

And will grow old with you


Wait for the guy who values his family

The kind of guy you will one day share a life with

The one that everybody would love to have

But will assure you that he belongs to you alone


Wait for the guy who will lead you

The kind of guy you will joyfully submit to

The one who continues to be Christ-like each passing day

And always point you towards the Savior


Wait for the guy who puts GOD above all else

The kind of guy who knows why on earth is he here for

The one who has prayed to GOD in order to find you

The guy who will do everything to win you over , the only one you’ll ever have to give your heart