7 months. That’s how long the house for rent has been sitting there, unoccupied. Prospective tenants came & went, pero hindi nagugustuhan. O minsan naman sobra sa budget nila. Through the months, our Pastor has prayed over it, Kap & I prayed over it, I even took my mom for a laying of hands thinking baka mas malakas sya hehe. Every night it’s even included in our family prayer. Pero nada, hindi talaga maupahan. Kap was already insinuating that we I made the wrong choice of investment. #historical

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Then God spoke to me one day as I was in my dressing room (which I also call my poNder room because it’s where I do my reflections & muni-muni), talking to Him -more of begging actually. He said “have you dedicated the house to Me yet? You ask for blessings, and when I give you more than what you deserve, you accept then just conveniently forget about me.” Oo nga naman. Hiyang-hiya ako. Kap & I didn’t even dedicate the house to the One who has given us so much. The One who has always been faithful in providing for all our needs. Pagkatapos naming tanggapin ng buong-buo, nakalimot na kaming ialay sa Kanya ang biyaya.

So 2 Sundays ago when every member of the family was present, just a couple of days after God spoke to me, the GOppets gathered in the house & we formed a prayer circle. We prayed from the heart. Praying is really so simple & easy, it’s like talking to someone lang -but with deference of course. Wholeheartedly & straight to the point. It doesn’t have to be long, it doesn’t have to be scripted or in litany. It just needs to be real & from the heart. Mula sa puso kung baga. 🙂

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Yes, even dear Lelly joined the laying of hands & our prayer circle. She is a part of the family after all. <3

This served as a strong test of faith for the kids as well. Actually, when God immediately answered our prayer, I was the one more surprised than them. The kids were expectant & trusting all along. I need to learn a thing or two from them, really.

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Not an hour passed and someone saw the house with our For Rent sign. He got lost, actually, while looking for other houses on his list to inspect & made a wrong turn into our cul-de-sac property. Blessing for us indeed as God directed him there, wala syang kawala, lol. He contacted Kap & arranged for a go-see right there & then.

I wasn’t feeling him at first, to be honest. Hindi ko masyadong type because he was direct & straight to the point in addressing his finances & conditions. Hindi swak sa mga plano at kundisyon ko. But in our prayer of dedication, we lifted up everything to God, so I was really really giving this trust thing my best shot. And I’m really glad I didn’t get to talk Kap out of missing the chance of meeting Andy because of my initial gut feel (yes Satan was werking it). Turns out he is indeed, THE ONE. 😛

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Andy was quick & decisive. He took a look around, liked the place & sent photos to his wife. After a few reasonable negotiations, some give & take, we hit it off. YAY! Thank you God for answered prayers!

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Most of the time we I tend to take things into my own hands. In the weeks prior as I was already getting troubled, nagpa-ads na ako kung saan-saan, nagtawag na ako ng iba pang back-up Brokers, everything else that I could think of just to get things done & move things along. This time around, I decided to just lie-low & let God do all the work. I promised Him that I will just be there for the ride. Whad’ya know, not an hour had passed & God was already working to our advantage! <3 Broker-free na, advertisement-free pa! ;))

Some talks & back and forth email exchanges later, Andy & his family finally ok’d the house & the terms that came with it. They are willing to rent it for 2 years, with clause, but still -victory! This at the most opportune time when our spirits were already sinking so low & our funds being depleted after a big trip & tuition of the 3 kids, plus all other bills piling up. Thank you God!

Forgive me Father for always doubting You. Many times You have proven, time & again actually, Your faithfulness. And yet, I always have my doubts. What will it take O Lord for me to fully trust in You when all You have been throughout is good & gracious to my family.

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Prayer circle.. HOME RUN na po sana Lord! 🙂

This, like everything else in our lives, is Yours Lord, to do as you please. <3 #MerryEverything #HappyForeverAfter #inJesus

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So to you my dear readers, who may be at the lowest point in your lives right now thinking you are in a hopeless situation, know that there is ALWAYS hope in Christ. All you need to do is pray & ask..

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Matthew 18: 19-20 “Again, truly I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything they ask for, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. 20 For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.”

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Matthew 7: 7-11 “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. 9 “Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? 10 Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? 11 If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him! 

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Luke 17: 6 He replied, “If you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it will obey you.

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If God can answer the GOppets’ prayer, He is also able to answer yours. Don’t lose hope. In God’s time, you too will have the desires of your heart. Just keep the faith.

God continued to talk to me the next Sunday at service when Andy had been unnervingly quiet after our last talks & there was still no written guarantee as we waited for August 26 to come – the actual contract signing. Hay, ayan na naman, nag-aalala na naman ako! #DiNaNatuto

I would like to share this with you doubting Thomases like me in hopes that you too will learn to leave all your cares & worries -no matter how hard it may be, and to trust blindly by faith. CLICK HERE for the August 21, 2016 sermon by Pastor Joby Soriano on EXPERIENCING JESUS’ MIRACLES.

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God surely listens, understands, and knows the hopes & fears you keep in your heart. When you trust in His love, miracles happen.

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Experience Jesus’ Miracles (John 2) – I.T.T.O. na! THE BEST IS YET TO COME

I – Invite Jesus Into Your Life

T – Tell Jesus Your Problems
(1 Peter 5-7) Cast ALL your anxiety on Him because He cares for you.

T – Trust in Jesus. Trust that He is in perfect control. Trust His timetable in your life. (God’s time not your time)

O – Obey Jesus in evey area of your life. Read the bible to hear God’s instructions.

1.) Many people think that it’s enough to just pray. You need to do your part too. You will not experience the fullness of God if you don’t follow His instructions. Stop sinning, ask for forgiveness, repent & change.

2.) With God, nothing is impossible. Jesus is the miracle worker of life. (John 1:3 All things came into being by Him.)

3.) Miracles answer your needs, but more importantly, miracles give glory to God.

So when you think that you are at the lowest of low, hold on to your forks, folks.. coz THE BEST IS YET TO COME! :-*

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Consider the story about a woman who had followed the Savior and worshiped in her church for nearly 70 years. She’d been diagnosed with a terminal illness and given only days to live. As she was getting her things “in order,” the Pastor was called to her bed to discuss her final wishes. She told him which songs and scriptures she wanted at the service and what outfit she wanted to wear. As the Pastor was leaving, the lady suddenly cried out, “Wait. There’s one more little thing. I want to be buried with a bible in my left & a fork in my right hand.” The Pastor didn’t know what to say. “So that puzzles you, does it?” the lady asked the Pastor. Then she explained: “In over 70 years of attending community socials and dinners, church functions and birthday parties, seems like every time some one would tell me, ‘Keep your fork.’  I liked to hear that because it meant something better was coming, like chocolate cake or pickled pears or pecan pie, something sweet and wonderful. So now I want my friends and family to remember me with a fork in my hand and I want them to ask, ‘What’s with the fork?’ I want you to tell them: ‘Keep your fork, the best is yet to come.’“

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Dear God, may this house serve as a happy home to its new occupants & bring them immeasurable love, peace & joy. Thank you Lord for continued blessings. <3

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Yesterday.. we have finally concluded our transaction. Oh happy day! <3 Thank you Jesus!

May God’s blessings be upon this unit too as they live out their life here in the Philippines. Welcome, Andy & family! :-*