He Will Complete His Work

"... being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus." (Philippians 1:6 NIV)

"The Lord will perfect that which concerns me; Your mercy, O Lord, endures forever; Do not forsake the works of Your hands." (Psalms 138:8 NKJV)

Dear Lord,

I had forgotten this. I had forgotten that You had called me years ago, You had called me to You, for Your purposes, Your pleasure, Your glory. I was broken and unlovable, but You, O Lord, promised. And You who promised are faithful. You have promised that You would perfect that which concerns me. I am awkward, unsure, afraid, with so little faith, but You have started the good work in me. You have made me gentler, kinder, more conscientious. I'm still quite a way off, but You will complete the work You have started in me. You are sovereign. And I am Yours. My very name declares Your oath, your promise. I suddenly just thought of something, Lord. Since my name means "God's Promise." Have You promised me to somebody? Am I Your promise to someone? That would be so romantic. May I think of romantic things, Lord? I'm always so afraid theses days. It may not be the case but I can't help but feel like I've been punished for wishing for romance. Change this heart, Lord. Free me from worry and fear. Let me love, let me wish, let me dream again. And let me be Yours. Be always with me, my God. I want to be in love with You. I want to be in awe of You. Save me like a hero. Protect me like a father. Love me. And let me be Yours. Be my God. And show me the paths I need to take. Show me how to show You that I love You. Make my heart kind and gentle and confident so that I will please You. Give me faith that I may please You. You've given me trials, but I don't know how to increase my faith during those trials. I'm miserable during the trials. But You told me to rejoice. I need a heart change, Lord. And I can't do it alone. I resubmit my life to You this morning. I want to live the life of freedom You promise. I want to be in love and in awe of You. Make my heart young again. Come in to my heart and expel all the demo sa na the darkness they bring. Shine in my heart, that I will shine as well in You.

Lord, I pray for my finances. Thank You for the referral by James. You are an awesome God. I pray that we get it. Grant it to us, my God, if You will it. And I also pray that we get Petron and Jollibee. Please empower my people that they may do great in the projects I have given them. Please bless us in Komikasi financially that we can thrive as a company. I met wilth Geiser Maclang yesterday. I pray for wisdom. If they could really help us with next year, that would be really great. But Lord, I don't want to make any wrong decisions for this company. Enlighten me. Give me wisdom and discernment. Speak to me somehow and let me know what Your will is in this endeavor. 

I pray also for a man. I submit myself to You, Lord, becuase I've chosen before and it wasn't good. I need Your guidance. I pray for a good man, Lord. One who would take care of me, who I can talk to about You, who would love me and who I could submit to and respect. Someone I would be excited to live the rest of my life with. Someone who would build a good and godly family with me. Someone strong in heart, Lord. Someone maalaga. I put my trust in You, Lord. You wouldn't show me things and deprive me of them, for You are a good God. I will have faith in You that You have not forgotten me.

Thank You, and this I pray in Jesus' Name. Amen.

Morning Prayer

Dear Lord,

Thank You for today. Thank You for the opportunities You've sent my way. Lord, I pray for my health. Please heal me. I also pray for the awards night. We need help with finances, Lord. I pray that ICTO release the money soon. Thank You for the bid at FGL. Lord, teach me to handle my company. Give me strength. Give me joy.

This day I lift to You, my God. Bless it and help me be a blessing. This I pray in Jesus' Name. Amen.

Malicious Tongue

Dear Lord,

Forgive me. I succumbed to the darkness and spoke of ill of You, claiming I don't know if You'll save me or not, when You've always saved me. I don't understand myself, Lord. I don't think it's about the money per se. But there's something wrong with me. Is it the feeling of the lack of control, Lord. I know I should surrender control to You, for You who has promised is faithful. You're not usually early, but You're never late. You have Your timing. Lord, You've given me so much. Loyal people. A family who loves me. Why am I speaking death to myself? My mouth is an open grave, Lord. I don't know what to think, Lord. Things are going well, lord. Why am I feeling bad? This has nothing to do with my finances, I think. But I feel cluttered. I feel overwhelmed with what is expected of me. But I shouldn't be. It's not that big. I have punished myself somehow that I don't do anything for fun anymore.

Lord, forgive me. Forgive this malicious tongue and heart. Please don't punish me. Turn not away from me. Be my God, still. And forgive me, Father. I am so sorry. Let me try to present my body once more as a holy and living sacrifice to You. I will rejoice today, Lord, as You've commanded. I will try again, Lord. Please cast away the spirit of darkness from my heart. Shine Your light in my heart that my joy may be complete.

This, I humbly pray in the Name of Your Son, Jesus Christ. Amen.

Stagnant Waters

Lord, I thank You for a wonderful family and for the opportunities You have given me. But, Lord, in Your Son's Name, may I ask You for something? Give us joy in our hearts. I see the same stagnation in Mom and Marie as well. Does it run in my family, Lord? While we're not really depressed, we are unhappy, Lord. And for no particular reason. Maybe because we're overwhelmed with the responsibilities, but at the same time, maybe we're bored with the routine. We have forgotten our bliss. We have forgotten awe and wonder. What must we do, Lord? Lord, hear my plea. Hear my cry, my request. I ask, Lord. So that our joy will be complete. Complete our joy, Lord. Spark anticipation and awe in our hearts again. Excite us once more, my God. You are the God of Wonder. You have done great things, but we do not see. I am blind, Lord. Open my eyes. I need to see Your handiwork. I need to see the awesome and impressive things you've done. I need to see the greatness in Your creation. I need to be overwhelmed with awe that my body could do nothing but acknowledge You and exclaim, "Oh, my God!" as I am dwarfed by its beauty and magnitude.

Stir these stagnant waters that are our hearts, Lord. Teach us to care, teach us to see. Awake the awe in us again. Humble us with Your wonder. And send me, Lord. Send me on a mission somewhere. Give me a purpose. Show me clearly, my God, that I have a point.

Give us joy in our hearts, dear God. This I ask in the Name of Your Son, Jesus Christ. Amen.

Morning Prayer

In the morning, Lord, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait expectantly. (Psalm 5:3 NIV)

Dear Lord,

Thank You for a family who loves me. 

Lord, this darkness has been persistent. It has been eating at me for the past three years. Please take me out of the dark, Lord. I know, the tomb is open and I'm the one who's not coming out of it. But I seem to have forgotten how. I have shut off. I have shut off pleasure after I had been hurt. I have shut off dreams after the death of my own dreams. I say I have moved on but my heart is hole-ridden. My world is colorless. I no longer hurt, Lord, but then I no longer feel, Lord. In hard times, I am angry. In good times, I am indifferent.

Lord, I have a request. I have a prayer, a favor to ask. Lord, give me joy in my heart. I know this is in line with Your will. You've been telling me to rejoice. But my heart just has no energy to truly smile. You tell me to rejoice, Lord. Then, please, light the spark. Maybe I've never truly been joyful when I was young. My default face was never a smiling one.

Lord, I also thank You for the opportunity with Bulkypix. I pray for Your presence and blessing in this endeavor. There's also Eyetem, Epic Nomz, Loupe, Combi, Eclipse and Sum-It, products we've been developing, Lord. Thank You for helping us, Lord, and for sending us OJTers who actually finish things. Lord, give me the positive outlook to appreciate these. Excite me once more, Lord. Wake my heart. Open my eyes. Take my hand and take me out of the grave I'm in. I can't seem to stand up and walk out on my own. Let my people see. Let my family see that I appreciate and enjoy them for You have given them to me. I'm so ungrateful. But I don't want to be. Take me out of the dark, my Lord. I don't want to be there.

And I will wait. For You have told me to wait. Wait for You for You are faithful. I will wait, Lord. For You are my God. I am Yours created for Your pleasure and purposes. Amen.

Sunday Prayer

Lord,

Forgive me. I'm annoyed at my sister again and being impatient with her. I'm keeping quiet now to not say anything hurtful. I've also been very proud this weekend, belittling the courage and effort of people who are interested in me. Forgive me. It is so hard. I want to change, Lord. I want to be like my friend, sweet and gentle. I want to have enough strength to be kind, to let go of the annoyance, to silence the rage. But I'm the kind who wants to get out of an unpleasant situation as quickly as possible and so I am impatient towards the people who persist to keep me there.

I want to be kind, Lord. I don't want to speak bad about people. I don't want to belittle people's fears or courage just because I'm impatient with them. Lord, You've given me all these opportunities to show kindness, but unless You change my heart, Lord, I'm not going to get any kinder. Help me, Lord. Change my heart so that when the opportunity arises again, I can glorify You.

I want to be like Roan, Lord. Kind, gentle. A woman who speaks kind words, words that build up and not repel. Words that put people at ease. I want to be like Andro, Lord. In control. Confident. Not easily stopped by obstacles. He doesn't even consider them obstacles. Lord, I'd like to be humble enough not to hurt the people who text me. I'd like to be confident enough not to flare up at my employees when they don't reach my expectations. I'd like to be sure enough of me and You not to feel offended when someone offends me. How do I do that, Lord?

I think it all boils down to how I see You. Lord, help me hang on to these truths. Help me fully believe these truths:

- That You know me. You know me by name. You know me inside out. You know me even when I was still being knit in my Mother's womb.

- That You love me, that You delight over me. That my very existence makes You happy enough to dance.

- That You have a purpose for me, particularly for me. That my existence has a significance in Your plan. That I'm part of something bigger than just me, something more meaningful than just making money.

- That I can trust You. You have plans for me. Plans to help me and give me hope and a future. That You would provide for me, and protect me and those I love. That You have my best interests in mind, and that even though the circumstances look bleak, I can rest easy because I trust you.

- That, whatever situation I my find myself in, I'm where You want me to be. My Jerusalems are not random. You've chosen them especially for me.

Lord, help me brand these in my heart. And be my strength to Be Still.

Wake from your Slumber

Give to everyone what you owe them: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor. Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for whoever loves others has fulfilled the law. (Romans 13:7, 8 NIV)

And do this, understanding the present time: The hour has already come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. (Romans 13:11, 12 NIV)

Give what is due, whether it's money, respect or honor. Love. It is time to wake up. The night is nearly over.