We had a ladies' Bible study in our house last Thursday for the first time and I was the speaker. Six ladies from our church came. I was a little nervous because it's the first time that I will do it. I talked about What is God's Plan For My Life.  The Bible states that God has a wonderful and unique plan for each one of us. He has specially designed and created us with distinctive talents and gifts to walk in a perfect plan He has already predetermined for us. (Ephesians 2:10 and Psalm 139)

I cited 3 life-changing steps to find God's plan for your life:

Draw close to Him Stick around with Him and talk to Him through prayer

Search Him The real source of God's will is His written Word, the Bible

Learn To Listen to the Holy Spirit Once you have submitted to His way of doing things and have receive Him as Lord and Savior over you life, you have made a God-connection and the Holy Spirit start talking to you about God's plan for you.

God's plan for your life begins with you becoming a child of God by believing of the Lord Jesus Christ alone for forgiveness and payment for your sin. This is different than a religion; it is a relationship with God based on His Word the Bible.

I also shared my personal experiences in life of how I talked to God and asked Him about His plan for my life and how I listened to the Holy Spirit. Ten years ago I didn't know what was God's plan for me. Ten years ago I didn't know that I will be married to a preacher and will start a ministry for the Lord. God has a wonderful plan for my life and for each and everyone of us. His greatest plan for us is to be saved and have eternal life.

"And this is the Father's will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day. And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day." (John 6:39-40)

After our Bible study, we ate the snacks that I prepared, goulash, macaroni fruit salad and orange juice. We had a good time and I suggested to the ladies that we will have a Bible study every month and they agreed. To God be the glory!

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Since we moved to this house, I didn't have time to exercise or work-out no more. I've been busy with lots of things and most of the time I feel lazy to do it. Lately I noticed I gained weight maybe because of lots of eating during the holidays. I tried to get on my stationary bike but then I already get bored riding it. I wanted something different.

Last Thursday, we went to SM to pay my internet bill. I passed by the sports store and I stopped by. I've seen that the elliptical machine that I've been wanting to buy was on sale. I asked how long will the sale last and the salesman told me it's until the last day of this month and the one on display was the last piece they have. So I decided to buy it right away after trying it. The good thing about buying the one on display is that it's already assembled and ready to use. I was worried it won't fit our car but they dis-attached the 2 handles and voila it fit in our car!

I've been using my elliptical machine in the morning when I got up and it made me sweat a lot. So far I've been on it for two consecutive mornings and I hope I can do it at least three times a week or more. I want to shed off these excess pounds that I gained during the holidays. I also hope I can get back to my walking exercise. I just need the will and determination. When I was in Texas, I exercise daily and I lost a lot of weight. At that time I had treadmill, stationary bike and power rider. If I did it before, I can do it now.

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Last Saturday was my friend Gloria's funeral. I was  asked to give a eulogy speech for her. Last year, I did 2 eulogy speeches for my aunt and my li'l sister respectively and tears rolled down my cheeks while I was speaking. It brought back memories of them when I did it for my friend. I wrote this eulogy speech for Gloria but I delivered it without reading my copy.

Gloria was a very dear friend. We were friends since we were in high school and we became close friends when we were in 3rd year HS until college. We were both born in the month of August, only different dates. I remember the first time she invited us to their house was during her 14th birthday. She invited us for lunch that time with her parents. She was an only child so they can afford to celebrate her birthday, unlike me, we were poor and I didn’t celebrate my birthday during those times. We went to the same university in college but I transferred to another school two years after. We lost contact that time but when we graduated, she kept in touch and she told me that she worked in Manila as a saleslady in a department store and it was during that time that she met her husband. She was pregnant with Jaah when she came to our house and told me about it. She became my kumare when she gave birth to her 2nd child Aika. It was that time that I met her husband. Later on I was informed that he left her for the 2nd time after she gave birth to their 4th child and he never returned. She did the role of mother and father to her 4 kids, raising them all by herself and I salute her for that. It was during her lowest moments that she turned to God, accepted Him as her Lord and Savior and led her kids to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ.

What is it that I can’t forget about Gloria. I think it’s her happy personality, her smile and her camaraderie. She’s a jolly person and when you look at her, you can’t tell that she’s carrying a heavy burden in her heart. Raising a child with no job is already a heavy burden, how much more raising 4 children alone with no parents or sibling to help her. I can’t forget also that every time she came to the house to visit me, she brought me malunggay, sineguelas or mangoes. She was a very thoughtful friend despite her lack, she managed to give me something. I can’t forget those times that she came to me and told me she has no rice to cook for her family so I gave her rice or money. Not that much but it help her anyway. She tried her best to earn money, she even became a Tupperware dealer, Avon dealer, etc. She became a tutor, made rice cakes for her kids to sell. She did anything to earn money and support her family. During my wedding, she was there as one of the usherettes. Her gift to us was a photo album. When I was in the states I kept in contact with her. I was thinking of how to help her and so I thought of finding an American husband for Aika so she can help her family later on. In short I became cupid or matchmaker for Aika and I’m so glad that Aika found a very good husband in the person of Jon.

I know that Gloria and her kids are so close to each other but I was told also that she and Aika have that special bonding so when Aika went abroad she was so sad and missed her terribly. Gloria love her kids so much that she will do anything for her kids. She has also a forgiving heart. She didn’t hold a grudge to her husband even though he abandoned them for 13 years. She told me many times that she will still have him back if he decide to return but it never happen. Gloria is great mother and a friend. She will forever live in my heart, in our hearts.

Gloria is in heaven now and we are here on her funeral. This is not the time for us to grieve her death but it’s our time to celebrate her life. Don’t ever forget Gloria. I know she never wanted to see people cry. I know at this moment she is happy and smiling now in heaven. So at this moment when we are about to lay her body to rest, let’s all think back and remember how Gloria touched our lives. How she inspired us that being a single parent and poor is not a hindrance to raise her 4 kids. This is not the moment for us to shed our tears but we should all be thankful that we were given the chance to have known a woman named Gloria.

Gloria will forever be missed but I know in the right time, I will meet Gloria again. Her kids will meet her again. We will all meet Gloria again in heaven if we are saved.

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We went to my friend Gloria's wake last night with hubby, my brother and his wife and my brother-in-law. We were supposed to be there around 7:35 but we waited on my BIL who was in a meeting in his work. So we went there around 8:15 already and a lady pastor was preaching. We sat down and listened and after she preached, my goddaughter Aika rendered a beautiful song. Then she called my hubby to give his message. Before that, I distributed the copies of the songs I printed to the people  there. Then I got the microphone and  I said a short tribute to my friend Gloria who was my close friend since high school days. She has 4 kids and raised them all by herself since her husband left them more than 13 years ago. I didn't know how she managed to raise 3 kids by herself with just a meager salary as a day care teacher. Other mother would have been looking for another husband or have lost her mind in thinking how to support 4 kids. But it was also amazing how the good Lord works. It was during those trying moments of her life that she had come to know Jesus Christ and accepted Him as her Savior, found a good church where she and her kids worship the Lord. Her oldest son finished college and is now a registered nurse with a good job. Her second daughter (my goddaughter) is married to a good and responsible American guy and she is now based in the US. She just arrived yesterday to be with her siblings during this time of grief and to give her last respect to her mom. My friend's 2 younger kids are  still in school. They all love their mom and I've seen in their faces sadness and grief of losing a mother. They were abandoned by their dad and now their mom passed away. That's life, we have to be strong and draw our strength from God so we can withstand the trials that beset us. I know how it feels to lose someone dear in the family. I lost my mom at a young age, then my grandparents, my dad and just recently, my aunt and my dear sister. It's so painful and until now I haven't gotten over yet with the loss of my sister. I know it will take a while but I just pray to God to take away the pain and grief of losing my li'l sister.

We sang 2 hymns last night at my friend's wake, "When We All Get To Heaven" and "Because He Lives." I led the singing though my voice was not that great. My BIL played the guitar while we were singing. Then I gave a short testimony of my life. After that, hubby gave his message and the title was "Our God Of Comfort." We hope and pray that they understood the message and that God will comfort my friend's kids during this time of need. My tears were flowing when my friend's oldest son said a short tribute to his mom after he sang. I felt his grief and sadness of losing his beloved mom and so with his siblings. Bless their hearts!

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My hubby is not feeling well since Christmas. He got colds, cough and slight fever. He’s been taking some over the counter medicines. Last New Year he had fever and he’s been coughing during night time. In the middle of the night he wakes up and can’t go back to sleep. If he takes some medicines and drink calamansi juice he gets better. But the problem with hubby is that if he feels better, he eats ice cream, drink ice cold drinks and sleep in front of a steady fan without a shirt. Too bad. I always tell him not to do it but he’s kinda stubborn so I told him he’s the one suffering the consequences anyway.

I know some people here have caught the bug. One lady in our church have been sick for a few weeks now. She feels the same as hubby, cough, colds and fever. My niece had it first then my nephew. Maybe it’s due to the cool weather, I don’t really know but I hope and pray that hubby will get well soon. Sickness go away in Jesus’ name.

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The past year 2010 was an unforgettable year for me and my family. Too many things happened that year and too many memories that will always stay in my mind. I can’t forget my aunt’s sudden death and my sister’s suffering of her illnesses for a few months that led to her death. The memories are still fresh but I know that as time goes by, God will heal all the wounds and griefs of losing our loved ones. It’s also during the past year that we started our ministry in Anis and then we decided to hold our Sunday services there. The Lord provided a house for us to meet on Sundays and I praise God for that. I also thank God that He blessed us physically last year and also He provided our financial need. Being missionaries here in my homeland with only our sending church who is supporting us is not that easy but God is faithful. We had foods on the table, clothes to wear, and a house to live. Though we have many wants but the Lord provided our need. We didn’t lack the basic necessities in life. Praise God for His faithfulness and provisions. Whatever happened in 2010 is in the past but it doesn’t mean that I will forget it. It’s a past chapter in my life that I can always look back.

I’m happy to welcome 2011 and so excited to see what the good Lord has in store for me to do this year. I pray that this will be a good year and that God will bless our ministry so more souls will be saved. We are looking forward to celebrate our church’s 2nd year anniversary on the last Sunday of this month. Thank you Lord for all the things you’ve done and for all the things you’re going to do in our lives. I give you back the glory, honor and thanksgiving.

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