My New baby!

Yey! Happy to finally own a DSLR! I bought my first camera last May 15, took me a long time to get one. I had to choose between Nikon D5100 and D5200. After reading dozens of reviews and seeking some professional photographers' advice I settled for D5200 which is newer model.

I bought the camera from an online store and personally picked it up in their office last Thursday. While the sales clerk was opening the box and putting out the contents for me, I have great feeling because I can finally pursue one of my passions which is photography. I am thinking of giving her a name because she will be my companion in my travels and adventures :) Just watched the Hallmark movie "Lucky in Love" and got this idea to name it Peggy. Jonah, one of the main characters in the film became a writer and he wrote a book entitled "The Story of Peggy."

"Peggy" traveled with me to Cebu and Bohol. I will be writing soon about my trip to these provinces.

Another Journey

I am entering another journey in life. It will be a test of faith and patience, waiting on God's answers. Fear and worry I cast aside. God is my provider and healer. He is my refuge.

I will walk by faith and not by sight.

Wohoo! I have my new passport now. I am looking forward to more travels this year. :) I will also get a Nikon D5100 DSLR next week. I can't wait to capture in camera the beauty of nature and human nature.

It's 2am Manila time, the whole flat is quiet and just the humming sound of aircon dominates the air. From 23rd floor of Olympic Heights Tower 3 I can see from my windows a panoramic view of Marikina and Quezon City. It was a good view and every time I look at my window I feel grateful to God. I am in awe with how God works in my life. I thank God I wake up every day and have reached this age. I thank God for my job at Accenture. I thank God for nice housemates. I thank God for my safety and protection. I thank God for His providence and healing. Most of all, I thank Him for my salvation.

Years back, I could not imagine working in Manila but when there is no choice you just have to plunge and trust God He will keep you safe. Metro Manila is a jungle where nobody cares for anybody. To each his own. Riding public utilities is unsafe. Food unsafe, etc. That so far is the image that media has shaped in my mind.

However, all of these have changed as I learned to appreciate this metropolitan place. I got to meet nice people. I enjoyed dining in good restos. I ride taxi without nervousness and just trusting I will reach my destination safely.

Where I am now is a small central business district in Quezon City which I described as a city within a city. I live and work in Eastwood City where all amenities are within walking distance. Banks, restaurants, malls, grocery, church, police station, fire station and satellite clinics are within walking distance. I can walk freely and safely at whatever time of the day.

I am thinking of quitting my new job and am going to miss this place.

This is the view from my window.

I walk around the mall park this morning around 5am.

Letter to God

Dear God,

You already know the thoughts and desires of my heart without me verbalizing it but I want to put my thoughts written down because I want to share my journey to the readers of this blog. For so many years my faith is not that strong. I doubted where am going if in case curtain calls. I have fears, so many fears but as I go along in this life you continue to mold me. I have been through circumstances in life that tested my faith in you.

Two years ago I found myself unemployed. It took me almost two years to find a good job. This journey brought me abroad, bonded with my elder brother, and spiritual brothers and sisters. Anxiety enveloped but you sent people to keep me going and you put in my heart that no matter what happens I should continue serving you. Day and night I prayed and cried to you. I was drawn closer to you during this hard time, I was able to attend prayer meetings and Sunday services. One day in my dreams you gave me a sign that this trial is over. After a month, I found a job.

A few months after resuming work, I got diagnosed with uterine fibroid. My desire to be a mother someday was threatened by this health issue. And as I suffer from pain my desire also to become a mother grows. I have decided to undergo surgery but you put circumstances to hinder that and you made me stand on faith and claim my healing. You exposed the works of satan. For four Sundays, Ptr Ian taught about how demon influences Christians. You empowered me how to cast out these evil spirits tormenting my body. You are teaching and molding me to be a woman of faith. You increased my faith and taught what is divine healing and its phases. Faith is believing something even when there is no physical proof yet. There were days I suffer in pain but I endured it as you whispered to me that I am already healed. There is no ultrasound or medical exam to prove that uterine fibroid is gone but I claimed by faith that I am healed. Thank you for the divine healing. Thank you for healing me.

It isn't in providence and healing alone that you are manifesting thy love and guidance to me. You are molding my character as well. You opened my eyes and made me aware to pray for my weaknesses. You continue to nurture Love and Forgiveness in my heart. You made circumstances at work to test my character. I remember praying for people to realize their mistakes. You didn't answer those prayers but when I prayed for love and forgiveness to abide in my heart you responded immediately. I understand then that it was me that you are trying to change not the people who offended me. For me that is a manifestation of love from my father. You wanted me to become a better Christian. I thank you for that.


Your child,
Katie

Grateful

Happy 2014!

It's the start of the year again and time to make to do lists and wishes for 2014. My heart is filled with gratefulness to the Lord for everything He made me experience as it molded my character. I am a work in progress and I am happy with who I am today. The experiences are so rich. I look forward to a better year.

I did not travel abroad or domestic last year and this year I intend to go places. Here is my list of must see places.
1. Bali, Indonesia
2. Taiwan
3. Backpacking in South East Asia
4. Iloilo - Guimaras - Antique backpacking
5. Cebu

I want to continue the following
1. herb gardening
2. Mandarin tutorial
3. guitar lesson

I am going to visit this place next year! :) Can't wait.

Only Believe

Everybody around me tells me to undergo surgery but in my heart I know the Lord can heal me without going through it. I believe He can do miracles and all things are possible with God. Brother Branham said healing was already done, we only have to accept our healing and believe God has already healed us. The Bible says by His stripes we are healed.

I scheduled my surgery with one of the finest hospital in the country but there are doubts in my mind if the procedure will also preserve my fertility hence I canceled it. I am standing by my faith in Christ that He can heal me without going through the knife. I read in one FB post that in the past there is only one health insurance - anointing oil and prayer of faith. I am trading my 400k health insurance with prayer of faith. I am claiming the Lord already healed me and restored my good health.

Farewell to a Good Man

I watched all the Fast and Furious movies. I am certified F & F junkie. I get dizzy with the car chase scenes but I grew to love the characters of Vin Diesel and Paul Walker. I remember watching the Fast Five in a theater with friends from Suth and I slept on some parts because I had no sleep then but I watched it again on DVD. :)

On December 2, I learned thru FB he died in a car crash with a professional car racer friend on the wheels. I thought it was just a prank. I was hoping it was just a joke but credible news websites carry the news of his death as well. I felt like I lose a good friend. He was a good man, a philanthropist and a Christian. Fans who have met him in person said he was really nice and very down to earth.

(snaps above are downloaded from an FB page supporting Paul Walker's causes)

Lunch out at Ciudad Elmina

Spent time with brothers and sisters in Christ in a restaurant owned by our former city mayor this afternoon. The ambience was bucolic. The menu is simple seafood and vegetable recipes. Saw my sister's pictures and I told her to take me there this afternoon to celebrate my birthday and have fellowship.

Turning a year older and wiser

I am turning 38 years old tomorrow November 17. As years added to my age, I maintain to look 10 years younger ;) (thanks to my genes) but I must say I am learning more about life and myself. I became aware of my weaknesses as a person and a Christian. Realization of these weaknesses give me the desire to become a better person.

What I have realized over the past years of my journey in this life is that I worry too much about my health, work, friends, relatives. I also became aware that I have valued too much some people I met and became friends with but I am not as special to them as they are too me. On friendship and family, I am too sensitive. My sensitivity hurts me first and creates gaps with people I work with or friends. Also, I can easily jump into conclusion or my imagination goes too far over something and later on stresses me. In other words, I think too much.

But the Lord is good enough to make me aware of my weaknesses and I am humble enough to ask for His intervention and guidance. I keep praying to overcome my weaknesses.

Thank you Lord for 38 wonderful years and the succeeding years!

Sometimes Eastwood reminds me of SG. At the Eastwood mall open park there are some men and women who dresses up and entertains people like the one below. They strike a pose with you.

Can't resist to have a photo op with this painter guy as well. :)

Thank you, Lord

I am grateful for the physical healing I received from you, Lord. Thank you for all the trials in my life as they are blessings in reality. Thank you for all the wonderful people in my life, relatives and friends. Thank you for my wonderful job and bosses at work. Thank you for making my dream to experience other culture and see places. Thank you for giving me a best friend who stands by my side all the time. Thank you for a wonderful day. Thank you for the life. Thank you, God!

You Are Amazing God

My heart is swelling with gratefulness to the Almighty God! He is indeed an amazing God.

I praise God for whatever I am going through right now. He is making me journey on series of tests to mold my Christian character and faith.

This month I have been through so many health issues and keep going to the hospital for check ups. It started with palpitation for consecutive days, headache, and anemia. Went through series of laboratory tests to find out what is causing the palpitation and chest pain. The results were normal and few days after symptoms gone.

Last week, went thru the routine monitoring of uterine fibroid mass. The ultrasound showed a very minimal growth and not alarming. Thank God! My doctor advised me to have CBC blood test and result showed an alarming low level of hemoglobin count. Doctor advised me to have blood transfusion on that day but I refused to do so because I feel alright and strong. I went home, prayed and had malunggay tea. I prayed to be healed naturally because I know that God can do it. The following day I went to an ambulatory hospital in Megamall and had another CBC test done. And guess what, God answered my prayer. My hemoglobin count went up to 103, although still low it is no longer in alarming level and does not require me to have blood transfusion.

I was glad that it was discovered that day that I have anemia. It prevented a fatal effect on me. If it was not discovered that day I might just collapse one day. I have been negligent lately in getting the right nutrients for my body to ensure healthy blood. God is always on time as what the pastor said last Sunday.

Today I went back to get the further blood test done (checking the iron level in my blood). It showed that oxygen level in my body is normal. God truly is working on my health.

Aside from healing God is also molding my character. He allowed me to be in a situation where I can display humility, love and forgiveness.

I was asking God before why I am not experiencing trials in faith. Little did I know that I was undergoing trials already however I was not aware of it. I did not consider those things are trials of faith. God opened my eyes and made me aware of those things.

If you are a Christian and you seem not undergoing challenges in faith, you have to reflect, kneel down and pray.

When God Made You

Next week am going back to see my doctor and get confirmation that the fibroid mass is completely gone and I have healthy body! God is our divine healer and healing is in our body already.

Believe you have received the healing and feel it. Don't let the symptoms bother you. Let faith arise and just be grateful with the blessing. Once you received your healing, take good care of your body because it is the temple of God.

Healing may come instantaneously or God may use medicines or doctors to cure you from sickness. No amount of medicine can heal the body if God will not allow it. Whichever manner you have been healed, it was a blessing from God. Even with the practice of positive thinking, it was not your positive thoughts that freed your body from sickness but it was God. He allowed you to feel positive about healing because He has granted your healing. It is not just positive energy that corrected your body cells, it was the Divine source of healing and redemption - Jesus Christ.

I watched videos of people who espouse law of attraction however, I never dissociate it with God. It is not just a field of energy that conspires to create something but it was God who blesses people.

Gregg Braden mentioned in his videos that when emotions, feelings and thought are one you can move a mountain. I call that FAITH because you believe in something even though you have not seen it happen yet in front of your eyes. A strong faith can move a mountain, it can call for a rain or stop rain, it can multiply food.

I am awesome I believe that. :) You are awesome, believe it. God has created each individual unique.

Today I made a decision to let go of people who don't want to be part of my life anymore. I will stop chasing friendship with these people. Their role in my life must have ended already hence, the friendship is no longer what it used to be. I welcome the new friends who want to be part of my life.

Happy Monday

I started my day at 5am praying and giving thanks to God. Like what always Robin Sharma advises get some exercise and so I did. I went for 30 minutes walk at the open Eastwood Mall park. It was a wonderful chilly morning, a perfect Monday morning. After the walk, I headed to McDonald's and grabbed pancakes. I noticed that I am always craving for pancakes after the exercise. It is what I did also last Monday, exercise and ate pancakes at McDo.

The chilly morning brings me back my good old days in Singapore. Every morning in Singapore, I hit the park and walk for 5 kilometers and do some stretching exercises. I am missing Singapore and I seemed can't get enough of the lion city. Don't know why.

I am grateful to God for another wonderful week.