#365DOT Day 12: Serene Night

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!

To be honest, I had a rough day. I was tired, sad, pained. The one thing I just wanted was to simply be home and seek refuge from all the thorns the world is throwing at me. But when I finally got home, I hesitated to go inside so I stayed out and looked at the night sky. It was the most beautiful masterpiece I saw today.  The stars were lined in their rightful places. The moon shines so brightly at me. It was a serene night. 

I realized then that the rough day I had is just a tiny speck of dust compared to the vastness and greatness of God's plan for me and your life. 

If God could arrange the stars in the sky, how much more will God, our Creator, arrange the broken pieces of our lives?

laurice-with-love ♥

#365DOT Day 10: 6:59 AM

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!

At 6:59 a.m. it was a typical Thursday morning.

At 6:59 a.m. I was waiting in line at the MRT Station.

At 6:59 a.m. people were going about their usual lives. 

At 6:59 a.m. some were waiting for a cab; some, buses; and others, the MRT. 

At 6:59 a.m. a middle-aged woman in yellow and red was sweeping the streets of EDSA.

At 6:59 a.m. a passerby dropped a 20-Peso bill on the street.

At 6:59 a.m. a policeman saw the 20-Peso bill, but didn't know whose is it.

At 6:59 a.m. the policeman gave the 20-Peso bill to the street sweeper.

At 6:59 a.m. the street sweeper's face was brightened up with her heartfelt smile.

At 6:59 a.m. I took this photo to capture at least a glimpse of God's hand at work.

At 6:59 a.m. I thank God for allowing me to witness His sweet miracles.

At 6:59 a.m.....

At 6:59 a.m. the street sweeper could have stayed at home and left the garbage untouched. But she didn't. She sacrificed and cleaned other people's trash.

At 6:59 a.m. the policeman could have kept the 20-Peso bill to himself. But he didn't. He sacrificed and gave it to the street sweeper instead.

At 6:59 a.m. I could have observed other things. But I didn't. God made me see how He makes all things beautiful.

At 6:59 a.m....

God bless you! :')

laurice-with-love ♥

#365DOT Day 9: Baby Sam

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!

Wheeee! I thank God because today He gave us Baby Jana Samantha! ♥

Baby Sam is my churchmate's daughter. Isn't she lovely? Look at those eyes! They're eyes from and for heaven. ♥

I can't wait to play, sing, laugh with that little one! 

¹³ For you created my inmost being;
    you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
¹⁴ I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
    your works are wonderful,
    I know that full well.
¹⁵ My frame was not hidden from you
    when I was made in the secret place,
    when I was woven together in the depths of the earth.
¹⁶ Your eyes saw my unformed body;
    all the days ordained for me were written in your book
    before one of them came to be.

-Psalm 139:13-16

Life is a gift from God! Treasure it! 

God richly bless you! :)

laurice-with-love ♥

#365DOT Day 7: Quizzes

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!

QUIZZES?! I'm thankful for quizzes?!! Yes. Apparently, I am. O:) 

Today I'm the happiest and most grateful girl on Earth because I had a quiz! :] This isn't really something I'm proud of, but I almost missed the quiz because of lack of discipline. I left home 10 minutes late from my calculated travel time and got stuck in traffic. When I reached the MRT Station, the line was unbelievably long! While on the train, I asked God's forgiveness and asked Him to increase my self-discipline. Jesus forgives! He is full of mercy and Grace. When I reached school 10 minutes passed bell time (we don't have a bell, though), the quiz has just started and I was able to take mine! :D Wheeee! Praise the Lord! :"> Thank You for Your Grace, Lord Jesus! :)

Lessons:

1. The Grace of Jesus Christ is rich and sufficient.

2. Do your part! Discipline yourself!

3. Learn from every mistake and practice what you learned. :)

Hope this helps! God bless us all! :D

laurice-with-love ♥

#365DOT Day 6: 1st Sunday of 2013

[ SORRY FOR POSTING THIS LATE. I GOT BUSY OVER THE LAST FEW DAYS. :) ]

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!

There's no greater way to spend my first Sunday of the year than listening to God's Word, worshiping Jesus, and encountering His Holy Presence at His Holy Temple. :'> I am especially thankful for today's message because it reminded me of how blessed I am and how great God is! I was blessed to see thousands of  people of God lifting their hands and shouting, "Thank You, Lord!" Our church was filled with tears of joy, shouts of thanksgiving, and spirit of gratefulness. Everybody was thanking God for both the blessings and the trials in 2012. I'll always treasure this moment.

How about you? What are you thankful for the year 2012? Job promotion? New books? Good grades? Family? Here's what. Thank God for both the good and bad experiences of 2012 because you wouldn't make it to 2013 if not for His Goodness and Grace. :')

God bless you! 

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.

 ------------------------

 

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. 

------------------------

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.

Joy in the midst of Sickness

Hi! Sorry for being idle for the past few days. I spent my sembreak at St. Lukes Hospital from October 23-27. I was shopping for make-ups and make-up brushes (uhmm. yeah. I just realized that I need to have this stuff) last Tuesday with my mother when my brother-in-law called. He told me that my sister was rushed to the hospital a couple of hours earlier and will undergo an operation the day after! The doctor said that the intense pain that my sister felt was due to appendicitis. I didn't wait for the next day to visit. I immediately packed up my luggage bag and went to the hospital. There I spent my nights and days looking after my sister.

This is St. Lukes Hospital

See the couch? That's where I slept for 4 nights. :) It's okay though. :D

Praise God she had a successful operation! I also thank God because she was discharged last Saturday. I wasn't able to go home afterwards because I spent three more days in my sister's house. :) Although I didn't get to hang-out with my friends, to rest, or to go out last week, I feel more than blessed! :) There's no greater joy than to spend a whole week with my sister. It was just me and my sister...and of course, movies and books! :D 

Truly, Jesus Christ is our Healer! I saw my sister cry out of pain each night, but there is Power in the Name of JESUS. Just call unto the Name that is above any other name and you will witness great miracles! I called unto JESUS because I know that He can heal my sister. I thank and praise God because my sister's operation was successful and she had a quick recovery. She can now walk and stand! It was really quick! Praise be to God! All Glory to Jesus Christ! :D

                        

If anyone of you or your loved ones is sick, just call unto Jesus. He is our healer. Nothing is impossible with our Lord Jesus! Please watch the video. It's a song entited HEALER by Kari Jobe. :) I pray that you'll encounter Jesus as you watch the video. I speak healing to everyone who is reading this post and to all your sick loved ones, in Jesus' Name! :) (please believe in the power of Jesus and say, AMEN).

'Til next time! :) God bless you more and more! :) 

laurice with love <3

Miracles Happen: 1 Slot Just 4U :)

I praise God for He is in control of everything. I thought I was prepared for a stressful enrollment day, but I should have known better. It was really exhausting at school. Everyone was busy looking for subjects with slots. It turned out that the only available schedule for the subject I needed is from 6:00-7:30 pm. Whoa. I don't think I can handle a night schedule AGAIN--not with commuting from Bulacan to Ortigas everyday. OH NO NO NO. But then, I have no choice. I have to take the subject. 

So I surrendered everything to God. I allowed Him to take full control of my class schedule. And then.....

When it was almost my turn to add subjects, I checked the screen once again to see if there was any chance I could get an earlier schedule. THAT WAS WHEN I SAW IT.

I looked at the screen a little more closer to make sure that I saw it right. And of course, it was there. THAT "ONE" SLOT FOR THE 4:30-6:00 pm CLASS!!! I couldn't believe it! 4.30-6.00 pm class!!! It's still late, but it's definitely not as late as 6.00-7.30pm! 

Wheew! There were still a number of people ahead of me in the line, but Jesus wouldn't disappoint His people. I got the subject and now I am enrolled! :) Praise God!

Truly, God works in ways that we cannot see. Never doubt God's faithfulness and power just because you don't see Him moving. His ways are not our ways. His thoughts are far greater than our thoughts. 

Just Believe. Have faith. Hold on to His promises.

Surely, you will witness God's Miracle right before your eyes. :)

All it takes is a mustard seed amount of faith and you can tell a mountain to move.

Be blessed! :)

laurice-with-love <3

I Won't Give Up--Faith!

"I won't give up on us even if the skies get rough..."

Nope. I'm not singing. Okay, maybe I am, but it's not what you think.

Yesterday (that was 53 minutes ago) was the roughest day of my week. School starts in a few days time and by this time, students are cramming with their class schedule. Fortunately, the I.T. experts of this Age did a really great job in coming up with the "online" enlistment. That way, students don't have to go into the trouble of going to school to enlist their subjects. Isn't that cool?

Wait 'till you get to try my school's online enlistment. Supposedly, my batch was scheduled yesterday from 9am to 5pm. However, most of us couldn't access the enlistment portal. It just kept on crashing the whole time. We couldn't add a single subject, or that was my case, at least.  It was not cool at all. T.T

With all the inconveniences I encountered yesterday, it was easy to give up. Thanks to my classmates' FB updates, I learned that most of them have already completed the 27 units required whereas I got ZERO units in hand. It disheartened me all the more when I saw the sections I like to get were already CLOSED. But then, I just kept my eyes fixed on the screen and my heart fixed on Jesus from nine in the morning 'til seven in the evening. I believe that He knew my needs.

If you'll look closely, my situation yesterday was highly impossible to salvage. But JESUS can make the impossible POSSIBLE! I was able to enlist 15 units by 5pm. It means the moment the portal closes, I'll be waiting for the rest of the university to enlist their subjects online--and that will take ONE WEEK--before I get to enlist for the remaining slots. 

However, God's hand was at work! He is true to His promises! He won't forsake those who trust Him! The enlistment portal should close at 5pm, but it didn't! (That's the first miracle!) Then, the enlistment process went really fast! (That's the second one.) Finally, I got to enlist all the subjects I needed! :"> Err. Not totally ALL because I lack one P.E. subject and another CAS subject, which I think I can still get at school. So, no worries! God is fully in control!

I know that it's easier to lose faith and give up when times are rough, but just hold on to Jesus Christ for He is true to His promises. Joshua 23: 14 says, "...You know with all your heart and soul that not one of all the good promises the Lord your God gave you has failed. Every promise has been fulfilled; not one has failed." Hold on to His promise that all things will work together for good to those who love Him (Romans 8: 28). 

When everything is failing, it's hard to believe. But don't lose hope. Walk by faith and not by sight and all the good promises of the God will come to pass. 


Whenever you are faced with trials, always remember that God is sovereign over all things. He created the heavens and the earth. The Heaven is His throne and the earth is just His footstool. Is there anything too hard for Him to do? There is nothing that He cannot do.

Just walk by faith and not by sight because God will surely unfold His greatest plan for your life right before your very eyes! Don't give up even if the skies get rough or if the days get tough. Have faith! Trust God.

laurice-with-love <3

The pink rose that I received yesterday...

A new romance that has yet to bloom into full passion

    As soon as I, together with other 39 people, heard the squeak of the room's wooden floor, the laughter and clamor of 40 voices subsided. It was as if the "stop" button were pushed and suddenly, there was silence across the room.

    It was not completely quiet though. From my seat, I could still hear the soft buzzing of the air-conditioner, the gentle flipping of pages, the constant clicking of pens, the restless tapping of feet, and the slow yet firm steps that I dread the most. As the sound of the steps drew closer to me, I could hear my heart throb with uneasiness and panic. I sensed eventually that I was uttering my prayers loud enough that my seatmate  probably heard me. I doubt it, though. I was too tensed to pronounce the words clearly. 

Who could blame me? Business Communications is the first major subject I have ever taken in college. Not to mention that seconds later, I would take the first anticipated "long" quiz, which is based on a 33-page article. Plus the fact that my weekend was jam-packed with activities that I wasn't able to check our FB group for quiz updates. In short, I wasn't able to review that much. All I could do was to pray and to tweet before leaving for school.

   As I caught sight of the white bond papers, I felt like I was on the verge of screaming at the top of lungs. Before I could even open my mouth, my professor had already placed a white paper on top of my desk. One white paper. I couldn't believe it. Ha! It was just a ONE pager quiz! I wanted to scream. This time, I wanted to scream His Name. Then again, even before I started screaming, my professor interrupted my thoughts and said, "You may now start."

    As I turned the page, I was stunned (whoa!) by what I saw. It wasn't simply because the quiz was only a page long, but because the 33-page article was reduced into 8 concepts--the only concepts--that I knew. It was unbelievable. 

     Right after I finished the quiz, I thought I saw a soft pink rose beside my paper. It was perfect. I could smell a glimpse of heaven here on earth. I knew then that nobody else saw the pink rose but me. The pink rose was meant for me...

...and that's when I remembered my tweet that Monday morning before I went to school:

"OTW to school. I expect God's miracle today! :') God bless us! Take care! :')"

    Pink roses signify grace, gentility, and sweet thoughts. More than that, pink roses signify a new romance that has yet to bloom into full passion (Flower Advisor.com). With this little experience, I realized that what I witnessed was one of God's great miracles. I encountered the sweet, gentle, and the "full-of-grace" Jesus Christ. Just like the pink rose, Jesus comes in a gentle manner. He reveals Himself even in little things. What's greater is that He leaves a promise in every blessing and miracle that He gives His children. As the pink rose signifies a new romance that has yet to bloom into full passion, Jesus Christ promises His children that there is more to come. That He has more for you and me:

“What no eye has seen, 

what no ear has heard, 

and what no human mind has conceived”[a]— 

   the things God has prepared for those who love him—"

1 Corinthians 2: 9

Look around. There might be a pink rose meant for you as well. 

The pink rose meant just for you. 

laurice-with-love ♥