Rejoicing Amidst Suffering ^_^

Rejoicing Amidst Suffering
Every breath is a gift fom GOD..

And every heartbeat is a grace from above

Though it is hard for us to see him suffer

We still see GOD's love on us even greater

I just miss his yells everyday..
Longing for him to talk all the way..
Missing the time when he's requesting me
To give him unlimited cup of coffee...😁😁
Though for now he's really unmindful
I still magnify the Lord so faithful!

"When a train goes through a tunnel and it gets dark,you don't throw away the ticket and jump off. You sit still and trust the engineer."
~Corrie ten Boom

Be still and know that He is GOD.
His grace is sufficient....

Ang Taong Siya'y Kilala

Ang Taong Siya'y Kilala

(Pagbubulay-bulay sa Binasang aklat ni J.I.Packer~"Knowing God")

Ang Diyos na si Yahweh,dapat na purihin
Ang dakilang Haring dapat na kilalanin!
Ang kaalaman "tungkol sa Kanya"
At ang tunay na "pagkilala sa Diyos" ay magkaiba
Hindi sapat na ikaw sa Kanya'y maraming alam
Pagkat ang pagkilala at relasyon sa Kanya ay mas mainam

Kung ang Diyos ating tunay na kilala
Tayo'y magkakaroon ng dakilang lakas para sa Kanya
Lakas na Siya'y papurihan at pasalamatan
Sa lahat ng Kanyang Kabutihan
Sa kabila ng mga kahinaan

Ang Taong kilala ang Diyos na makapangyarihan
Ay may higit na kaalaman at karunungan
Sila'y may dakilang tapang at walang kinakatakutan
Handa Siyang ipaglaban at di mag-aalinlangan
Pagkat sa mga daang may karimlan
Pangako Niya'y iingatan at di bibitawan

Ang taong kilala angDiyos ay higit na kontento
Sa Kanyang pag-ibig at plano
Sanggalang ang lahat ng Kanyang turo
Gaya nila Shadrach,Meshach at Abednego
Na tapat at pinuno ng Banal na Espiritu
Mabuhay man o mamatay,sila'y kontento

Ngayon,sa lahat ng sinabi'y ako'y nanlulumo
Dahil sa mga oras at bagay na sinayang ko
Mga pagkakataong kinilala ko sana ang Diyos ko
Hindi  ang mga walang kabuluhan sa mundo
Namuhay ayun sana sa Kanyang gusto

Aking Diyos ako'y iyong patawarin
Ipaalalang palaging ako'y Iyong nilikha upang Ika'y kilalanin
Isang pusong tapat,sa aki'y likhain
Bigyan mo,o Diyos ng bagong damdamin

Pagbubulaybulay sa Kanyang Kabanalan

Ang ating kabanalan ay lubos na maiintindihan

Kapag kabanalan ng Diyos ating mauunawaan

Kung higit nating Siyang makikilala

Kasalanan nati'y ating makikita

Ang Kanyang kabanalan ay nailalathala

Sa kanyang mga obra't iba't ibang nilikha

Bagamat walang sino o anoman sa Kanya'y maikukumpara

Mula langit at lupa ay nagpapakitang Siya'y Banal at Dakila

Ang ating mga mata'y mamamangha na

Higit pa lalo kapag ating matanaw Kanyang mukha

Sa kabila ng kanyang kabanalan,

Nakita ko ang aking sarili na puno ng kasalanan

Kahit anong gawing pagsisikap sarili'y nauuwi sa kabiguan

Ngunit salamat sa Kanyang Anak na bumaba mula sa kalangitan

Siya'y ipinanganak sa sabsaban

Namatay at muling nabuhay upang aking kasalanan ay linisan

At bigyan ako ng kaligtasan at buhay na walang hanggan...

Aking Diyos, sa handog mong kaligtasan 

Itanim sa puso ang iyong mga gintong   Aral

Isapamuhay ang iyong Salita at magpaka banal

The Long wait is over; I am now a Professional Teacher!

I give You thanks, oh Lord with my whole heart;

Before the gods I sing your praise

I bow down toward your holy temple

And give thanks to your name for your steadfast love and your faithfulness

For you have exalted above all things Your name and your word         

  -Psalm 138:1-2  

This is a post praising the Lord for what He has done to me. I can't really imagine that He gave this gift though I don't deserve it. Truly GOD answers our prayers. There are times I thought I can't make it but he abounded his grace for me to get through this battle. All of these are because of his love and faithfulness. Truly God is a God of surprises!  The God of love and the God whom you can trust!

"Praise, Praise, Praise the Lord!" are the words that came out from my mouth in the moment I heard the result from my friend. I just remember the times when I am still reviewing, there are lots of sleepless nights and stress but He provided me strength and courage to face the hardships. I just remember the times when I don't know what to answer in the exam but he gave me knowledge and wisdom, and the times when doubts and anxieties bother me but he reminded me of his promises through his word. God really works in this matter. After the announcement I received lots of calls, messages in Facebook from my family, friends, church mates, former teachers and co-workers telling that they are happy with my victory.  But actually, passing the LET is not really the issue for me. It's not about the privilege to have a license, it's not about me and my victory but it is about how GOD worked in my life and how he molds me and taught me to trust his heart and his plan.

As I walk in his providential grace, he taught me to trust his heart in every little thing of my life even things went wrong. He taught me to be still and joyful in his presence whatever the result maybe. He taught me to focus not on my doubts but to focus on him and his word and to put my hope in him and his steadfast love.

It is also my joy to thank GOD for the people he used for me to be motivated in this journey---my family who are always there to support me, my co-workers who encouraged me and gave me advices & tips in taking the LET and in allowing me to borrow there reviewers and other resources. And to my close friends/church mates who always prayed for me and encouraged me even in the form of jokes just to make me laugh when I  doubt. (Remember the words: "ONLY TWO DIDN'T MAKE IT!") :)

Thank you, Thank you, Thank you!

Behind this success is the GOD of all grace who sovereignly plans everything. He is definitely the One who deserves all the praises and glory. Therefore being a professional teacher is just a bonus for me. 

Thank you my Lord for you allowed and bless me to be a teacher. Help me to do my job faithfully and use this for your glory. Help me to be faithful servant to my students and consider this as a ministry.

You alone be glorified!

Not to us, Oh Lord, not to usBut to You name give gloryFor the sake of your steadfast love and your faithfulness

-Psalm 115:01

Isang Pasasalamat sa Diyos na may Gawa ng Lahat

Unang araw ng Hunyo ay certified MYAF na ako

Dahil dumating na ang pagiging biente-kwatro

Naalala ko pa ng pumasok sa edad na labing pito

Yun ata ay buwan ng Pebrero

Hindi akalaing mananatili ng ganito

Sa piling ng mga kabataang naging parte ng buhay ko

Nang maging parte ng kabataang Metodista

Ako ay labis na natuwa

Dahil hindi ko inakala na ito na pala ang simula

Ng mga karanasang mula sa Diyos na mapagpala

Bagamat noong una’y talagang nanibago

Sa mga kabataang labis ang “passion” sa I’yo

Nagpapasalamat sa kanila sa  ipinakitang pasensiya

Sa mga salitang binitiwan mula sa matalim kong dila

Higit sa lahat sa Diyos na Siyang nagbago ng puso at paniniwala ko

Dito,kasama ang kabataan nagkaroon din ako ng iba’t-ibang karanasan

Mag-aral ng Kanyang salita, kumanta at magtawanan

Mga Bible study ay inaabangan

Kahit pagdating ng evaluation ay bagsak naman J

Ngunit lahat ng natutunan dito’y di makakalimutan

Maituturing na tunay na kayamanan

Nagpapasalamat sa Diyos na puno ng kabanalan

Dahil dinala Nya ako sa grupo na mahal ang Kanyang katotohanan

Kaya nagkaroon ng masayang samahan

Bagamat may mga pagsubok na dinaanan

Lubos lubos pa rin naman ang naging kaligayahan

Sapagkat si Kristo ang pinanghahawakan

Ang karanasang mula sa aking kabataan

Ay maituturing na bonus lang naman

Kumpara sa pagkakakilala ko sa Diyos na makapangyarihan

Siya lang naman ang tunay na dahilan

Kung bakit patuloy ko Siyang pinapupurihan

Ako’y nagpapasalamat sa lahat ng Iyong biyaya

Sa bigay mong SCC-UMYF na pangalawa kong pamilya

Upang lumago ako sa pananampalataya

Lahat ng ito’y mula sa Iyo aking Diyos na dakila

Ang totoo’y halo-halo ang nararamdaman

Dahil naiisip na graduate na ako sa kabataan 

Ngunit nangingibabaw pa rin ang kasiyahan

Dahil ipinakita Mo sa akin ang Iyong katapatan

Nakita na sino ba ako para Iyong bigyan

Ng pagkakataong lumago bagamat makasalanan

Ang lahat ng papuri ay sa Iyo lamang iniaalay

Sapagkat ang Iyong katapatan ay walang kapantay

Ang kadakilaan ng Diyos ko at Hari, aking ihahayag

Di ko titigilan magpakailanman ang magpasalamat

Aking pupurihi't pasasalamatan siya araw-araw

Di ako titigil ng pasasalamat magpakailanman.

Dakila si Yahweh, at karapat-dapat na siya'y purihin;

Ang kadakilaan niya ay mahirap nating unawain.

    -Awit 145:1-3

My Conversion Testimony

In telling how GOD saved me, let me first give some background of my life before that life changing moment.

I am Marygrace S. Caranto and I grew up as a Roman Catholic but just followed what I usually heard and taught by the people around me especially those people older than me about God. Though I was raised as a Roman catholic, I am not a worshipper or even a church-goer before. I usually attend the church just during my birthdays or if I just want to lessen my sins knowing that attending a Sunday mass can wash my sins. I am a happy-go-lucky girl searching and mingling for a lot of friends in this world. I gave my whole heart in delighting myself with jamming with friends, gambling and other things that can satisfy my longings. I am a woman full of rude, unpleasant talk, heart and actions. After graduating high school, because I don’t have enough knowledge and plan where to enroll college, relying on the career guidance of my school, I am encouraged to enroll at SCCO (San Carlos Christian College of the Orient). I don’t have any idea that time that SCCO is a religious (born-again) school so when I entered the school I was shocked when they conducted a chapel service every Wednesday. It was an awkward moment that there are people worshipping and praising God even inside the school. So during that time, whenever they require us to attend the service, I usually hide myself and escape for it feels me uncomfortable and considering it as unnecessary in my course. 

It was while at college that I met Sir Bernard Rosario, one of my college instructors who invited me to attend a bible study in their church (United Methodist Church). When I went there I am amazed that there are group of young people enjoying studying the Bible chapter by chapter and verse by verse. They call it “New Testament Survey”. I am curios that day on that why is it instead of watching ASAP , (a variety show) every Sunday, they are passionately consuming their time just to study God’s word? What is in them that I don’t have? What inspires them to do that? As week goes by I enjoyed their company and used to join the Bible study every Sunday. Staying with them is an odd thing for me. From worldly activities that I used to do before now I am joining with those “godly people”. But staying there lets me get to know GOD better through His word. They also shared to me their faith in God and told me of his love and how He sent his Son Jesus Christ to die on the cross and shed his blood and rise from the dead. I also challenged to read the Bible when I became a UMYF in that church. After days and nights of reading the Gospels, He has shown Himself to me. God opened my eyes that Jesus is the only way for me to be saved. He is the only way of salvation that I can do nothing to save myself, not even going in the mass every Sunday, not even being a good girl or doing good works. From there, I ask God to forgive all my sins and to come into my life and accept Him as my Lord and Savior. Indeed I felt a wonderful peace! Though I don’t deserve anything from the Lord even His love still He gave it to me freely. He sent His Son Jesus Christ no matter how great I am as a sinner. He also showed me that no matter how much I worked on to save myself what a blessing to realize that it was not by any good works but by His grace alone through faith in the Lord Jesus that I could be saved! As the Hymn says,

“Nothing in my hands I bring

Simply to the cross I cling.”

With a new life with Christ as my Lord and Savior, He has given me purpose, satisfaction and joy. He remains faithful as he continues to transform me to be like him. I can’t imagined that from a “happy-go-lucky-girl”, searching joy in this world will be called a child of God, a “GOD-girl” who delights fully in the Lord and His word. He also blessed me with faithful brothers and sisters, the SCC-UMYF whom I loved and appreciated most every time we have fellowship with each other. I know it was God’s providence to be with them having one heart and one passion to know and glorify God.

God is really sovereign for he has given me the privilege to serve Him and have fellowship with Him. I am so grateful that a sinner like me will be loved by an all-powerful, all-knowing GOD. This assurance of salvation He has given me is the great gift that I’d ever had.

Praise and glory be to the LORD!

"Ang Aking Karanasan sa Pangasaan
Makita ang Kanyang Kaluwalhatian"

Ako'y natutuwa sa lahat ng karanasan
Paglalakbay mula San Carlos hanggang Pangasaan
Kasama ang mga kabataan
Dala-dala ang pusong gusto Siyang papurihan

Sa aming pag-akyat,hinarap ang iba't-ibang daan
Masikip,mabato,maging nakasusugat na talahiban
Init ng sikat ng araw amin na ring naramdaman
Sa kalagitnaa'y ramdam na ang sakit ng binti't katawan
Ngunit lahat ng aming pinagdaanan
May kapalit na kasiyahan
Nang marating ang taas ng kabundukan
Kamangha-mangha Mong likha, aming namasdan
Nagpapatunay ng Iyong di masukat na kapangyarihan
At di mapantayang karunungan

Dito'y naranasan ko ring magsalita sa mga kabataan
Magbahagi ng katotohanan
Tungkol sa kaligayahan sa gitna ng kahirapan
Inaamin kong noong una'y ako'y nag-aalinlangan
Dahil aminadong wala akong kakayahan
At inaaming ito'y aking kahinaan
Ngunit salamat sa Diyos,ipinakita Nya ang kanyang kadakilaan
Dahil sa aking kahinaan,Siya ang naging kalakasan

Natuto din akong maging kontento
Sa lahat ng biyayang bigay ng Diyos ko
Dahil sa buhay ni Manong Marcial at ang kanyang patotoo
Nasabi sa sarili "May mga pambihira talagang mga tao, dahil pambihira at dakila ang kanilang Diyos na si Kristo!"

Ang lahat ng katotohanan na aking napakinggan
Maging ang aking masayang karanasan
Ay mula sa Iyong grasya at kapangyarihan
Tunay na ang Iyong pagmamahal at kadakilaan ay di mapapantayan
Kahit ano pang tayog ng kabundukan
Dahil di masusukat ang Iyong kaluwalhatian.