#365DOT Day 5: Dawnwatch

Disclaimer: 

#365DOT is a blog feature at Dainty Damsel Stories. It features at least one thing, event, or person that I thank God for the next 365 days of 2013. :] If you're interested in joining, hop in! I'd love to hear your stories! :] Just link me back and leave a comment. :'] Yay! A blessed 2013 to everyone!

Today's Dawnwatch Service at our church will be forever embedded in my spirit. I thank God for this opportunity to gather with other worshipers and corporately encounter Him at the dawn of the day. It's not easy to carry a half-awaken self to church at 4 am, but it's worth it. The presence of God this morning was so thick and tangible I could touch it. 

There was one night last year that I cried to God and asked for my identity. At that moment I was at the season of brokenness. I felt so empty and broken. All self-confidence and self-esteem were lost. I felt my dreams slipping out of my hands. I no longer knew who I am. Today God gave me my long-awaited answer. I just knelt down and asked God, "How do you see me, Lord?" Before I knew it tears were streaming down my face because God encountered me at that place. He removed all doubts and walls around me. I knew then that God wants me to completely surrender and entrust everything to Him. No more pretensions. No more inhibitions. No more self-reliance. But more of JESUS. Only JESUS. He is more than enough. 

If there's a Dawnwatch Service at your local church, I highly encourage you to attend it. It's an open invitation to encounter God. :]

God bless you always! :']

laurice-with-love ♥

Answered Prayer: Trip to Thailand! :)

It was the 5th of July, year of God's Great Miracles (2012).

I opened the Bible in 2 Kings 4: 1-7. It read,

"The wife of a man from the company of the prophets cried out to Elisha, “Your servant my husband is dead, and you know that he revered the Lord. But now his creditor is coming to take my two boys as his slaves.”
² Elisha replied to her, “How can I help you? Tell me, what do you have in your house?”
“Your servant has nothing there at all,” she said, “except a small jar of olive oil.”
³ Elisha said, “Go around and ask all your neighbors for empty jars. Don’t ask for just a few. ⁴ Then go inside and shut the door behind you and your sons. Pour oil into all the jars, and as each is filled, put it to one side.”
⁵ She left him and shut the door behind her and her sons. They brought the jars to her and she kept pouring. ⁶ When all the jars were full, she said to her son, “Bring me another one.”
But he replied, “There is not a jar left.” Then the oil stopped flowing.
⁷ She went and told the man of God, and he said, “Go, sell the oil and pay your debts. You and your sons can live on what is left.”
 
At the reading of the last word, my heart was broken. I knew then that I've been carrying a burden that is not for me to carry. I've exhausted myself with worry and fear for my family. At that moment it was fear for my parents.

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I was born to Millan Villarino, 47 then, and Lualhati Villarino, 46, on a quiet day of August 14, 1993. Eighteen years later, they are still the same funny and responsible parents that I know--although way older. Growing under their care, I remember how aware I was about how fast time flies. How I always pray that God will reward them to live and see my future husband and even kids. How I always pray for the salvation of each member of my family because I know...life isn't in our hands. 

I never realized how heavy my heart was until that night of July 5. I broke down at the last word of 2 Kings 4: 1-7. I can't force myself to think about how many more years left I have with my parents. I just know that it's time to let go and LET GOD. Jesus Christ reminded me that the burden I carried since time immemorial is not for me to carry. It is HIS' and He'd already overcome it 2000 years ago when He died on the Cross of Calvary. That evening I surrendered all the worries I have for my family. I cast it all down at the feet of Jesus. 

Just as the widow and her son, I gave my empty jars to Jesus--no longer filled with worry, concern, and burden. Faith comes along with every empty jar that I surrender. And you know what? Now that my jars are empty and my faith solely given unto Him, He is ready to fill it. 


Four months later, one of my empty jars is filled. It was my greatest dream--their baby daughter's wildest dream. I hope you don't mind, but I'll show you an excerpt from my journal, dated 5th of July 2012; 11:00 pm:

"Lord Jesus, I want to give [my parents] the opportunity to enjoy life and see the world as long as they have strength. Lord Jesus, my parents are already old and I'm two years away from graduation...please allow me to bring my parents across different beautiful countries. [Allow] them to enjoy the beauty of Your Creation. Lord Jesus, my faith is in You..." 

My father hasn't been to any country outside the Philippines. It was his dream to visit other countries together with my mother. It was his dream, but I made it MY dream. Yes it's a simple dream, but it's one of the greatest I have. After that evening, I constantly prayed for it. I even started to save money. It'll cost much and I don't know how much time I'll need to save up, but God will provide. He always provides. 

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November 29, 2012. I boarded the plane with flight number 5J 929 going from Manila to Bangkok, Thailand. I knew then that no matter how many countries I've been to and how many more I'll go to, this 4-day vacation will always be special to me. It was the moment when my first empty jar was filled. It was an answered prayer--and a quick one! I didn't leave the country alone because my sister, mother, and at last, my father were with me.

Mom and Dad

Sister, Me, Mama, and Papa

Like Mother, like Daughter :">

With my hero

Isn't she lovely? I love my sister!

Stayed in at the tallest tower in Thailand!

God moves in ways that we cannot see. We may ask for something, but He'll give us something greater! All the time I prayed for it, I thought I'd have to shoulder all the expenses. But you know what? God provided it. I didn't spend a single coin from my own purse. God bless the heart of my brothers and sister. God bless the heart of my brother-in-law and sisters-in-law. This trip wouldn't be possible without God and my siblings' good heart. I love them so much!

God can do great miracles, but let us not limit God to what we want because we might miss out the greater things God wants to offer. What's your burden? Stop carrying heavy jars filled with worry, hatred, envy, or sorrow. Just surrender your empty jars to God and put your faith in Him. Next thing you'll know, it's already filled. God richly bless you!

P.S. 
I haven't told my parents about it. I haven't told them how much I dreamt of bringing them to different countries. I'm just happy to share this experience with you. I hope you were inspired by it. :) Who knows, maybe they'll about this someday? :) But then again, it doesn't matter. I just love them so much. Thank God for this family.

laurice-with-love <3

 

Dose of Encouragement: LET GO & LET GOD

I can't believe it! I miss you guuuuuys so much! :"> Sorry for being MIA this November. Thanks to piled up school works, I haven't had time to reeeead and write posts! </3 Anyway, I pray you're all doing great! Belated Happy Thanksgiving! Advance Merry Christmas! :"> Wheee! :">

Here's a little encouragement for you guys! :)

 

"Cast your burden on the Lord,
And He shall sustain you;
He shall never permit the righteous to be moved."

-Psalm 55:22

What are your burdens? What keeps you from experiencing pure joy and peace?
Today, just LET GO of everything that troubles you and LET GOD take full control.
It's easier said than done, but test God on this. He shall sustain you. And before you know it, overflowing blessings are showering upon your life.

LET GO AND LET GOD.

How much time do you have?

God made me realize that we don't have all the time in the world to be with the people we love; to be with the people who love us; and to be with the people we can love. Learn to value each moment you spend with your family, your churchmates, your friends, your officemates, your schoolmates, your neighbors, your teachers....

Treasure them. Cherish them. Bless them. 'Cause you'll never know how much time is left until you bid each other goodbye. Have a blessed day I love you all.

laurice-with-love <3

There's No Better Hiding Place than Jesus Christ

Hi guys, I woke up this morning feeling the need to share this song to you. I don't know what you're going through right now, but I know that each of us is facing his own storm of trials and problems. I don't know how heavy the burden you're carrying is, but God wants you to know that you can rest in Him. He said in His Word, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.-Matthew 11:28" 

You may be in the middle of a sea of problems right now, not knowing what to do. But you can freely run to Jesus Christ and find rest and peace in Him. You can cry your heart out to Jesus and you will find comfort in His loving arms. Cast all your worries, cares, and pain to God because He cares for you. (1 Peter 5:7)

May you find encouragement through this song. I'm praying for all of you guyss. God bless you always! :)

HIDING PLACE

Steven Curtis Chapman

In the distance I can see the storm clouds coming my way,

And I need to find a shelter

Before it starts to rain,

So I turn and run to you Lord;

You're the only place to go,

Where unfailing love surrounds me

When I need it most.

CHORUS

You're my hiding place;

Safe in your embrace,

I'm protected from the storm that rages

When the waters rise,

And I run to hide;

Lord, in You I find my hiding place.

I'm not asking You to take away

My troubles, Lord,

'Cause it's through the stormy weather

I learn to trust You more.

And I thank You for Your promise;

I have come to know

Your unfailing love surrounds me

When I need it most.

(chorus)

So let Your people seek You

While You may be found,

'Cause You're our only refuge

When the rain comes pouring down.

(chorus)

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Steven Curtis Chapman is a Singer, Songwriter, Musician, Dad, Husband, Follower of Christ with the mission of Knowing God and making Him known. 

Steven Curtis Chapman returns with his new album re:creation. The new album features 5 new songs from Steven including the first single “Do Everything”, and all-new recordings of his 8 biggest hits. The entire album has a progressive and fresh acoustic sound, which reflects the energy and life found in the songs. The title speaks to the actual re:creation of these songs, which are re-imagined and re-recorded in a new musical space. More and most importantly though, the word re:creation speaks to the new life God is re-creating for Steven and his family as they walk forward in their lives. (Source: Steven Curtis Chapman Facebook Page)

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Dose of Encouragement is a feature in my blog that allows me to share God's Word, Christian Songs, Inspirational Stories, and my personal testimonies of God's faithfulness in my life. I pray that this blog feature will inspire and encourage you to walk with God! :) God bless us all! :)

laurice-with-love <3