A great reminder to live a lifestyle that is pleasing to God.

Glorifying God through our lifestyle is also the greatest statement to others about our faith in Him.

GOD DESERVES NOTHING LESS THAN A LIFE THAT LIVES ONLY TO GLORIFY HIM.

spiritualinspiration:

“Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past.” (Isaiah 43:18)

spiritualinspiration:

No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. (Romans 8:37)

SOMEBODY ASKED ME THIS TODAY. :)

I love placing the definitions of things. It reminds me of how powerful the word I’m looking at actually is.

1. persevere |ˌpərsəˈvi(ə)r|
2. verb [ no obj. ]
3. continue in a course of action even in the face of difficulty or with little or no prospect of success: his family persevered with his treatment.

• persevere
• verb // she will persevere regardless of the obstacles: persist, continue, carry on, go on, keep going, hammer away, not take no for an answer, stick it out, hang in there. ANTONYMS give up.

Regardless of how your year has started or how your fasting (as I joined Victory’s 2012 Prayer and Fasting week) ended… As Christians we need to be the shining example of perseverance. That will separate us from the rest. When people are falling left and right and not getting up because they no longer feel like the battle is theirs to fight, that is what will make us DISTINCT. 

My dad was reminding me that when things don’t always go according to my plans, and when things are not going my way, not to act unmotivated and to feel dejected.

It is in these times of NOT GETTING YOUR WAY, you learn more. Being able to work through circumstances that are not to your liking will form your character.

This is an old reminder. I already know this. But hearing it again after talking with my Dad, it was just what I needed to remember. As you know, we always forget. It is a human flaw, to forget that which we need to remember MOST. 

For a righteous man falls seven times, and rises again. - Proverbs 24:16

(via bakedandinked, leilockheart)

God’s got the WORLD in His hands. :)

Okay….
I need KINDNESS.
I need GENTLENESS
I need SELF-CONTROL
I need PATIENCE
I need PEACE

Haaaalllaa. Ang daming kulang sakin! HAHAHAH

Prayer and Fasting will just be the beginning! PUSH TIL DECEMBER, BABY! :)

God never forsakes those He loves. God is a promise-making and a promise-keeping God.

He’s beyond what we could ask for or compare to. WE CAN SEARCH THE WORLD AND FIND NOTHING THAT WILL BE REMOTELY CLOSE TO DESCRIBING ALL THAT HE IS… OR THE LOVE & GRACE THAT HE EXTENDS FOR PEOPLE AS FLAWED AS WE ARE.

Whatever we are experiencing, whatever we are enduring, we can be sure that He is with us, carrying us and molding us.

Take heart, and finish 2011 STRONG! 

Psalm 121

A Pilgrim Song

spiritualinspiration:

www.getoutthebox.org

www.facebook.com/naeemcallaway

spiritualinspiration:

www.getoutthebox.org

www.facebook.com/naeemcallaway

spiritualinspiration:

“…Do not throw your pearls before swine” (Matthew 7:6, NAS).


Do you realize you have treasure on the inside of you? You could say that your pearls are what God has given you to be a blessing to the world around you—your gifts, talents and abilities. When you get around true friends, people who really believe in you, they won’t be jealous of your gifts. They won’t constantly question who you are. They won’t try to talk you out of your dreams. It will be just the opposite. They’ll help you polish your pearls, develop your pearls, enhance your pearls, and grow your pearls. In other words, they’ll give you ideas. They’ll connect you with people they know. They’ll help push you further along. If you stay around people who don’t value your gifts nor appreciate what you have to offer, that’s casting your pearls among swine.

Your inner circle, those who are closest to you, should be people who celebrate who you are; people who are happy when you succeed. They should be people who believe the very best in you. Remember, it’s not the quantity of friends that’s important, it’s the quality of friends. Choose your friends wisely so you can be all that God has called you to be.

I think that’s true, because the day you find out WHY is probably the day you come into a relationship with Christ and realize that you were born to carry out His purpose for your life. 

And then you won’t have to figure out the rest of your days wondering, only TRUSTING. :)

spiritualinspiration:

www.getoutthebox.org

spiritualinspiration:

www.getoutthebox.org

spiritualinspiration:

www.getoutthebox.org

www.facebook.com/naeemcallaway

This pug has nothing to do with this post.

Last night while I was in the car, I felt God speaking to me, sort of…in a firm…stern way. Not the most pleasant feeling, but necessary nonetheless, as I have now been prompted to write and share. Maybe it’s really crucial that God is speaking to me NOW, just as the holiday season is rushing in and a new year is fast approaching.

The start of this week, I was getting frustrated about money. Again. Why? Because I want to buy so many things! I want so many things and my focus has been wrong the whole time. I’ve been praying for more so that I can buy what I want, live where I want, eat what I want, travel when I want, ANYTIME I WANT. I want I want I want I want, as been my brain’s LSS, and it has been for quite some time. And that is a tiresome and burdensome thought to have because it never stops eating you alive and keeping you dissatisfied. Yes, it drives you to a degree, but it drains you.

All of a sudden while I was in the car going home I realized/and was unpleasantly reminded I have been asking for MORE from God for the wrong reasons. Asking for an increase in finances isn’t bad, but asking for it so that you can buy more things for your self is selfish. It really is. I am ashamed that it’s been the consuming thought of my mind about finances, but I have to be raw and honest. I prayed and I knew it. I should have been asking God for more so that I could give more, bless more and so that I can fulfill the purpose that He has called out for me to do.

Everything I want WILL eventually be given and should be considered a bonus. I remember Pastor Steve Cadd’s comment about “things”. God lumps “things” as a simple common noun in Matthew 6:33, “BUT SEEK FIRST HIS KINGDOM & HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS AND ALL THESE THINGS WILL BE ADDED UNTO YOU”.

The kingdom of God, fulfilling my purpose in Him are far greater than the things I want provided for me. Sadly the latter has been my focus. I am glad I didn’t go into 2013 with this mindset still. It’s so hard, it wasn’t the type of thought that made me smile. In fact it made me tired. I have been praying for the wrong things! Sometimes it’s funny that you keep praying and praying but you are actually not praying properly. I’ve been praying, aka TALKING TO GOD, but the whole conversation has been soooooo self-centered, Besides, if I can’t handle what I have now, who is to say I will balance everything that I want with my money when I actually get more?

This is training. God is dealing with so many issues of my heart. I have to trust that he will give me the desires of my heart but I need to not make that my priority, my focus. My focus is to WORK HARD, BRING OTHERS TO CHRIST AND BE AN EXAMPLE TO THOSE AROUND ME IN MY WORKPLACE, AMONGST MY FRIENDS. Hay. Growing pains.

Finally, an update after a long hiatus. So many things happening in my life I just couldn’t get a steady rhythm for a while.

I had a great weekend, an amazing start for October. I spent it with those that really mattered the most to me, those that love me for everything I am and genuinely care about me… and as I am reflecting now I realized how blessed I am.

I couldn’t be happier upon seeing this quick snapshot of my those people that made my weekend superb and relaxing. I hope for many more weekends like this :)

g-oldenn:

I try to

pinoytumblr:

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It is important that you do not use the tags for spamming. Use them to help our countrymen in need. Reblog and spread the word.

I didn’t have a weekend last weekend because I was at a Franchise Expo for work. It was a grueling weekend and then I went through a really surprisingly fast (but yet still tiresome work week)

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE WEEK FOR ME: (Read on, please!)

I got to spend great time (and dinner) with friends after the Tuesday night service (as I missed Sunday!!!) We had a nice Japanese dinner and Moira inspired me to REALLY learn the fishtail braid!

BRAVE! It’s not a typical Pixar film, and I don’t think a lot of people can enjoy it (I know my brother won’t watch it) and I don’t think all audiences will be satisfied with it, but I absolutely LOVED IT.

I think you should all try to give it a shot, while it is still in cinemas here (I’m watching again!)

I finally downloaded my first game into android and sadly I got really hooked. I can’t wait to get my bulldog and elephant in this game! MINIPETS is addicting and I don’t recommend it for people who are easily distracted! HAHAHA

Today, I finally got to sleep in, but when I finally woke up…I got to play one of my classic favorites! I’m a simmer for life! It’s always rewarding to play this game… :)

Ofcourse I also got my quite-regular saturday visitor, Gogo!

We got to chill out at home today, and then when Elijah got home we went off to Raintree and got ourselves some of their amazing milk teas.

(I got my ULTIMATE favorite there: IRISH EARL GREY MILK TEA is something you need to drive out there for! It is worthy every sip. It’s similar in awesome-ness to the Earl Grey Ice Cream of Merry Moos)…

And then we played SEQUENCE (and I won 2x), a game I have actually managed to understand! So here is a photo summary of my Saturday as well…

All in all I think this day was great, and I feel like I really got to rest! :) I wish all my Saturdays were like this…

I’m in the car almost 2-3 hours a day (thanks to Manila traffic), and at times I actually find it soothing. It’s the time I get to be by myself and really THINK (because I’m literally stuck in the car and I can’t be distracted with ANYTHING or ANYONE). The only other time I get to focus is when I run, but I don’t play music when I run!

I’m not really gifted with the ability to explain what exactly I like about my music….so I’ll just get straight to sharing a few of the artists/bands I’m super happy with right now. They make my morning (every morning) right now… :)

Read More

vibrantvoyage:

Sometimes dreams are what you need to wake you UP and bring you back into reality. As is what happened to me over the weekend. I guess God is just that amazing, that He can speak to you through dreams and remind you to bring your heart back into focus.

I’m currently saving up for a smart phone so that I can really blog better about my experiences. Since my smart phone was stolen last month, I’ve not been able to document any food trips or activities.. it’s been quite sad. For now, I will make do with what I can, and I will keep up my blogging!

Earlier this year, I fell in love with Milky and Sunny..I’ve had a fairly recent food tripping experience there, I visited it just last week and had dinner there with my great friend Melinda!!! Anyway, allow me to elaborate further…(It will be good for you, I promise)

This is my first photo at Milky + Sunny, when I visited it for the first time. I was holding up a plate of their tapa. :) I have, since then, gone back numerous times…

This is a photo of the Broccoli & Mushroom casserole dish that I devoured last Wednesday.

Do not be afraid, click on and read some more, I promise it’s not an essay!

I have taken my officemates, good friends and siblings there because it’s

• cozy
• comfy 
• scrumptious
• very very very affordable.

The menu isn’t that big (and honestly, I kind of like that, because I hate getting dizzy with all these options on menus), so they focus on making and perfecting their great breakfast dishes…(sigh of joy)

I have dubbed Milky and Sunny as an “indie pancake house”

It’s cheaper than Pancake House (most expensive meal there is priced at PHP250! Oh-la-lah…), as their pancakes range from PHP100-140! And they are worth every peso, I promise you. I wouldn’t have dragged almost 10 of my friends (all at different times) to a place with measly & tasteless breakfast food just because it was affordable…That would simply not be right!

It’s a great place to chat and relax as well, because the environment is very very cozy and i love the overall design of the restaurant. They even sell the paintings on their walls! :D

TOP 3 FAVES at MILKY+SUNNY:

1. Strawberry Cheesecake Pancakes (THEY ARE HEAVENLY)

2. Eggs Benedict (It’s yummy and filling)

3. Breakfast Enchiladas (ONE OF THE BEST MAIN DISHES YOU CAN TRY THERE!)

Since I don’t have my own photos to show you how adorable and delightful the food is… I will now prove it you with a link that has made my mouth water for their food over and over again! It’s from Foodspotting… This is what it looks like (you may click the link to be directed to the page!) It will show you great photos of their food taken by fans. :) Oh, and as you can see, Eggs Benedict is featured! :D

http://www.foodspotting.com/places/294456-milky-sunny-pasig

LEARN MORE:

https://www.facebook.com/milkynsunny/ 

You can find Milky & Sunny at:

9 East Capitol Drive, Barangay Kapitolyo, 1603 Pasig

And they are open:

Mon - Sun:7:00 am-10:00 pm

krishykitsch:

As one of the most celebrated personalities in the Philippines, Divine Lee boasts of an astounding resume that half her peers would only dream to have. The Vice President of Globe Asiatique, Divine is also a successful journalist, holding a top blog (divinemlee.com) that talks about woman’s lifestyle and fashion, a model host and currently the newest face of one of the largest beauty companies in the country, Flawless. Divine is likewise one of the more popular personalities in the social media scene, with over 130,000 Twitter followers.

Divine is also a regular fixture in the social scene and a well-known fashionista, gracing the best-dressed pages of the country’s top lifestyle magazines. Divine Lee is currently dating model and actor Victor Basa.

Divine Lee for Flawless: Fran N Roll (more under the cut)

Read More

¹⁶ Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardlywe are being renewed day by day. ¹⁷ For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. ¹⁸ So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

It’s so easy to get lost in what you haven’t done yet, or what you haven’t got. It’s so easy to lose heart, it sort of happened to me in the latter bit of June. But reading the Word brings life and encouragement and gives you fresh faith and courage to take on the day knowing that the best is yet to come and you just need to keep making little steps of effort towards your goals. God’s plan is still greater than any plans/ideas/dreams you’ve stretched your mind to touch.

I’m ready for the rest of the year to take place and for the adventure to take my breath away! My biggest hope is that I end the year amazed not by how much I was able to accomplish, but how much God was able to work through me.

Argggh, I’m also pretty hungry. I can’t wait for Thursday evening! I’m thinking of eating delightful bowls of noodles! :D :D :D

Sorry to just shift topic but…I read this early morning before work started and something in my heart began to stir!

http://www.pepper.ph/the-most-delicious-ramen-that-ramen-masters-will-never-eat/

vibrantvoyage:

My parents are celebrating their 25th anniversary today! My sisters and I, under the bidding of our father, made this video to commemorate this glorious day and I must say, the video + their theme song has brought me to tears a few times.

I hope to see them celebrate 25 MORE YEARS (and MORE!!!!) together :)

Been sifting through so much footage and I decided to make a little video of a few cute silent clips I found of me, Bea and Nica (when it was just us!). Kinda cute, and I loved the song Si La Photo Est Bonne by Barbara (Putumayo Presents: French Café)

THE FORCE IS STRONG WITH THIS MAN! :) I hope to follow in his footsteps and be a valiant Jedi like him! Don’t mind the bottom-left photo….We were clearly not prepared! HAHA!

He’s my favorite running partner, and I hope to run thousands of more kilometers with him. (Since he claims he’s going to be running for life…I figure even when he’s 85, he’ll still outrun me, after that I’ll have a chance at overtaking him)

He has introduced the best drink in the world: COFFEE.

Since coffee helped me get through all those late college nights when I was cramming (due to my not-so-amazing study habits), then I guess it was indirectly my dad who helped me get through all those nights! 

I don’t think I can ever say enough to thank my Dad for being a constant beacon of wisdom and strength in my life. He has corrected me, encouraged me and comforted me… He has PUSHED me so many times to go beyond my comfort zone (which I need, because I love retreating back to it).

But most importantly he has directed to me to God, constantly telling me to live a lifestyle of worship, excellence and stewardship.

THANK YOU DAD! I love you… :) You look like a model here, and I’m really loving the flamingos, so I think this is an awesome photo of us.

My eyes got bigger as I got older, and Gogo’s got smaller. HAHAHAH!

It’s true, good friends make everything about life sweeter :) I’ve been keeping to myself at home lately, as it’s been utterly necessary for me to cut down on my ultra late nights, as I am unable to really focus at work (and THAT is a big NO NO!)…

But when I got the invite to meet up with my former IMC (the BEST COURSE OF UA&P. EVER.) batchmates, I even curled my hair for the occasion. 

The evening was well-spent because…

1. It was awesome to catch up with some of the people I spent almost 2 years of my university life with! And ofcourse, more than reminiscing, I am always more interested in where people are in their lives, and how they are moving forward (I think that’s more important than looking back, don’t you?)

2. The food at Borough never fails to make you happy. Milk + Cookies, Calamares+Popcorn made me happy. Borough is one of my favorite eating places in Ortigas. If you haven’t been to Borough, you are missing out. I’ve even held a blogger’s event for Flawless there! :)

3. I was with Gogo, who made the whole evening out very interesting! HAHAHA

Hi Liz! Hi Linus!

I hope for more awesome nights like this. :) I think I appreciate the fact that UA&P kept us in blocks so that we might maintain great friendships that go beyond University life :)

:) Please?

butihavenothingtowear:

butihavenothingtowear
Source: encouragement through biblical words/Facebook.

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The most adorable manatee has spoken! :)
Right now I can’t sleep because I feel quite anxious, I’m waiting to see how this week and this month is going to pan out…and It’s not the best feeling in the world (I was distracted all day), but while I struggle to push the anxiety down, I’ve found my “comfort” in my memories. Now that I think about it, He has never let me down in my life.

Everything I have asked for, He has given (He didn’t always give it right away, but He gave it the RIGHT WAY, in his perfect timing)

When I’m a little anxious, I like to look through my Spain 2010 photos, and I’m reminded how God always comes through. That photo was taken in Pamplona, Navarra! (Universidad de Navarra, it was empty when I first arrived in Pamplona because my dad and I were too early!)

I wanted to study abroad (in the US, as a matter of fact!) since I was in grade school. I thought the US was amazing, and I set my heart on going there for college. As HS  stretched out, I realized that my parents weren’t going to allow me to go there (and at that time we didn’t have enough resources to just catapult me there, as I had 4 other siblings that they had to care for and love as well).

I became extremely bitter about the whole situation.

While I was in HS, I just kept telling God: I’m missing out. You aren’t giving me my heart’s desires, and YOU promised You would. Why can’t I go to the US to study? Why can’t I get the education I want? WHY WHY WHY WHY WHY WHY WHY WHY? I kept asking WHY.

But I should have just asked God: WHEN? 

I entered University, and my parents still told me to keep my faith up, that maybe someday I’d get a chance to study abroad, possibly for graduate studies. I decided they were right and I shouldn’t focus on what I wasn’t getting.

All of a sudden, I had an opportunity to study for 6 months in Spain, in my 3rd year of University. The idea was just incomprehensible for me. I never even thought about studying in Europe, my little mind had only thought of studying in the US.

In a few, extremely rushed months, I suddenly had a ticket to Spain, and my finances (which of course, was one of the BIGGEST CONCERNS for me) for it were taken cared of. I had 6 months of an amazing journey in Europe, and I was able to visit Norway and France! I only asked for study time in the US and God gave me MORE. He gave me a chance to see Europe, study in Spain, visit 2 other countries and make some great friends, and learn about different cultures.

That dream of mine to study abroad took about 8 years before it happened, but when it did…God made it more than I had asked for.

So, I guess, that gives me peace that He is still in control of my life now, and as I am praying for breakthroughs in my life, no matter how long it takes, I know God is going to make it happen, and when He does, it’s going to be better than I imagine it to be.

I also want to end this blog entry with this touching photo that has no connection whatsoever to the story, but it makes me happy and I am also asking God for a bulldog, so I might as well upload a photo of one!

I need to make a commitment to blog everyday, and not the lazy type of blog where I just find an awesome image or something nerdy.
I think if I’m going to blog about what makes me happy, I’m pretty sure I can find something that brings me joy everyday, whether it be online or something that I do.

So here I go again! DAY 1 of BLOGGING!
My friend Van, who is in the US right now, is game to get me the stuff from THINKGEEK.COM that I’ve been wishing for…Since it’s rare that I have opportunities to actually get stuff from this amazing online store (To date, I have a Yoda Backpack and Lightsaber chopsticks from ThinkGeek!), I’m glad I now have another way to get some of these amazing Star Wars items!

First, the MOLESKINE 2013 Planner (Weekly/Daily versions). I need the YODA-quote planner!

THIS “How To Speak WOOKIEE” is definitely on my list as well. I want to be fluent in WOOKIEE so I need to speak in code about my feelings, I’ll at least have a Star Wars language to do it!!!

When I hold these two special items in my hands later this year, I will break down and cry!