How do I do?

A new update!

• I received 4 A's & 2 B's for the semester!
• Had fun getting stuck on railroad tracks
  & just jamming in the car!
• I made Marvels Dance Company!
• I had my first Marvels practice!
  I felt like I struggled a lot through it,
  but I know God will let me get it down.
  
• I went to Winter Formal with EJ Cabasal!
  

• The quietest place in the Key Club was the elevator!
• Dance circles!

But, how am I spiritually?
The Lows:
I've been putting other things and other people before God.
God throws out a lot of signs and opportunities to do things.
I feel obligated to do things.
I feel like if I say I'm doing good,
it'd be a lie because there's always something I'm lacking.
Of course, I'm not perfect.
But, if I say I'm not doing well, I'm being too hard on myself?
The simple yet complicated concept of grace.
I'm still trying to grasp it.
I haven't been reading His word. I haven't been praying.
I feel like I need to depend on those to keep me close to Christ.
I'm losing my knowledge in His word. My heart isn't into talking to Him.
I'm not on fire, I don't desire.

The Goods:
God is still Good, always. Forever.
I still find things to praise Him for.
Reminding myself that Christ died for me makes me step closer towards Him.
I know I'll never leave my faith. This is God's plan.
I don't even deserve anything & God still continually blesses me when I know it's been a while since I've talked to him.

Overall, I think I need people to keep me accountable. No one really has.
I need a good talk to straighten out these thoughts. It's much more than just this.

HELP

can you please comment some bible verses about how in Christ alone we can be saved and about scripture having authority and about sin. THANKS.

I believe that scripture has authority. Through Christ is salvation; he has paid for my past present and future sins. I am thankful to know that God will never give me a trial I cannot handle. This is my faith.

In other news, pictures from youth rally. Not in order.

It was a tradition to wear your shirts at school, and take pictures.

When Ceejay walked in; Look at Nigel.

SLYM was 1/3 of the crowd.

Legit. I'm wearing white and in the very middle.Michelle.Abiera.

They put makeup on Andrew.

Um, everyone looks EW.

Mark, Kathleen, Bryan, Desiree.

Michelle, Gerard, Raffy

Because Dominic wanted a picture with Lauren.

You can barely see me.

At the end.

The beginning.

Waiting.

REALIZE

Sometimes, I just want my parents to know about this blog. I want them to read all my old posts. I want them to see how much I have become closer to God. That, the way I talk about God is like I have never talked about Him before I became a Christian.

Seeing, how it's been almost two years I had been saved. Before I was saved, I didn't realize how big of a deal faith was. I didn't realize the beauty of this world was created by God. I didn't realize that God didn't need us, and that He created us because He loves us. I didn't realize that sin was a big deal. But after I was saved, I did realize this things. I also realized that God can satisfy me eternally. Other material things that I want, only satisfied me for a short period of time, and I begin to look for other things to satisfy me, but God gives me satisfaction. Most importantly, I realized what Christ did for us; it was so brutal, courageous.. It was for our sins, and we could never go through a trial that we cannot handle.

1 Corinthians 10:13
No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.

Recently, I realized that getting confirmed, would mean, me lying. I am suppose to be confirming my catholic faith, but this is not going to glorify God if I go through with this.

1 Corinthians 10:31
So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.

I think as Christians, we shouldn't come off to other people that hate on other religions, because that is what my dad thinks. We should be a light to unbelievers through our actions.

Luke 10:27
And he answered, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself."

&& I want to thank everyone for their support. <3

JUST CAUSE

Pictures

Friday the 13th.

Monday Dance Shopping.


Retreat.

Videos
neils group


cheer battleeee


I hope that the people on this retreat got something out of it, and brought it with them home.

I've decided to start reading from the beginning of the new testament, Matthew.
Just a few Verses I'd like to share:
"Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." - 3:2
Bear fruit in keeping with repentance - 3:8
In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven - 5:16
You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect - 5:48
You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye - 7:5
For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few - 7:14

THANKFUL

"Attempt great things for God, expect great things from God." -William Carrey

I should be thankful for many things instead of complaining.
I am most thankful for the knowledge of Christ. There are people out there who don't know His name!

P.S.
I want to set a time and date for that one day..

Just Stop and Think

My friend, Victoria, got this from another friend, Sean.

I am truly seeing God's glory. His commands are a gift. There is no excuse to not believe in HIM.

I see the Holy Spirit working in many people

To the Getty

I pick up April and Jojo, and we go to the Church office, and no one is there yet! But, everyone starts to come. Then, John(Santos), John, Kathleen, Kristine, and I ride in Kuya Alex's car. We sing the whole entire time!picture props goes to margiel wagas

We get there and we went through the garden, and then went inside to see portraits, paintings, and statues. We even got to see real butterflies, moths, spiders, and larger ants! We sat and then we went back to the meeting place and then went to see the painting of Jesus being crucified.


We went to Westwood to eat at Noodle Planet. YUMMY! Then, we walked to Diddy Reese. There was a line cause it was so famous and cheep! I got an ice cream sandwich. YAY.

i <3 Grandma

We saw a man on the side walk singing and playing guitar in praise to Christ. :) We prayed with him and i donated money.

I had a fun car ride in Kuya Leon's car with Jojo and April and then i knocked out for a while.

Things from the past, and now have been bothering me. I pray that it will not get to me. Definitely bottling all of this up is no good. So, i'll let it out to get some spiritual advice. Blessed am I with friends, who listen and help me.

Praise to Thee

I went to Kristine's house and we hung out for a while. Then, her dad dropped us off to 99 ranch market to get class 302, we didnt have time, so we just got lollicop. Kuya Buzz picked us up and went to Church.

We sat, eating, and playing with the rubik's cube, while Kristine drew. People started to come.

&& bible study started! The message was on the work of the Holy Spirit. We are born again in spirit as it says in John 6:63 The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you are spirit and they are life. Sometimes doubting salvation can lead you closer to God.

VBS 2008

The Theme is 'Outrigger Island'.
Psalm 86:11 Teach me your way, O LORD, and I will walk in your truth; give me an undivided heart, that I may fear your name.

Day One. Monday the 4th
Kuya Jireh picked me and Kristine up. We then arrived at Sonrise Christian School at 7AM! We waited for an hour to enter the room. We sang our theme song, then entered class. We all took a trust walk to the grass and then we play HYEAH! We read Exodus 6:6-8, 12:31-40, 13:17-18, 14:5-7, 10:16,21-22. and learned about Moses, the Israelites, and how Moses parted the red sea. The israelites were slaves for the egyptians and they were soon free running away. They reach the red sea and complain. Moses spilts it and they walk through to get to the Promise Land. Once there, they complain on food and they recieve bread and thank the Lord. Our memory verse was exodus 6:7 I will take you as my people, and I will be your God. Then you shall know that I am the Lord your God who brings you out from under the burdens of the egyptians. Kuya Jigger brought me home, and Kristine and melissa came over too!


Day Two. Tuesday the 5th
We played a game where we used water balloons and we had to toss it to a person and we had to say something in the alphabet that would have to do with the topic. Then we played bang. Luke 2:1-12, 25-35, 41-52 We learned about Christmas and that it should ultimately be about Jesus, who was born to die for our sins. The angels and Simeon rejoiced. Our memory verse was Luke 2:29-30 Lord now you are letting your servant depart in peace, according to your word, for my eyes have seen your salvation. Ate Penny took me home! And I fell asleep with Kristine on the phone watching the secret life of the american teenager.


Day three. Wednesday the 6th
Kristine, Lidia, and I did the pledges. We played bang, then we played a trust fall. You stand onto a table and say your fear, then you say, "But I trust my friends to catch me when i fall" I fell almost to the floor, but saved! We threw water balloons to the fifth and sixth graders. We learned the most important part of the Gospel. Mark 15:21-16:7. Jesus was crucified, was dead, was buried, and rose from the dead. We must trust Jesus because he was scurged, mocked, humiliated, and accused unjustly. We then wrote on a card our reflection and sins, then pinned them onto a large wooden cross. Our memory verse was 2 Corinthians 5:21 For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

Day four. Thursday the 7th
We played the game where you toss water balloons to your partner and we would have to step back everytime its catched. Then, we played scatter! We learned about Jeremiah 36: Jehoiakim burns Jeremiah's Scroll. God commands Jeremiah to tell the people of Judah that there will be disaster, but Jeremiah is banned and tells Barauch to do it. The bible is from God because it lasts, it makes men angry, and the bible says so in 2 Timothy 3:16 which was our memory verse, All scrupture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for instruction in righteousness. We threw water balloons to the junior high kids! I went to Ate Penny's house for a little while, then Melissa and I went with Ate Helen to pick up RJ. We went to Kuya Ian's house. We played nintendo, and i watched Jason and Chloe play pool. Then we all went outside to play on the grass, and Kuya Ian taught us a routine for Forever by Chris Brown


Day Five. Friday the 8th. Graduation
We played the dance off game where for our team we would say "We are number four number four number four, we are number four where group number three!" dancing to a certain move. It was so intense that it was a tie between group four and three! We learned about the Good Samaritan in Luke 10:25-37. A samaritan is a jew and a gentile, and that is considered not good. But the samaritan has compassion for him unlike the priest or levite. The moral is that everyone is your neighbor. The one who proved to be the neighbor, is the one who showed him mercy. Kuya Ian gave us some applications. 1, give to those in need. 2, dont discriminate. 3, let my actions match my passion. 4, dont wait for others, do first. 5, spread the Gospel. Our memory verse was Luke 10:36-37 "So which of these three do you think was neighbor to him who fell among the theives?" And he said,"He who showed mercy on him." Then Jesus said to him,"Go and do likewise."
The war was on! as soon as the highschool walked out, all the kids ganged up on us threw water balloons and squirted us with their huge water guns! We couldnt fight back because all of our balloons were popped so no one would use it, and we only had the small guns where you have to refill it every two seconds.
I have successfully participated in Outrigger Island, Living God's Unshakeable Truth at Christian Fellowship Bible Church.

A place called 'New'

Chelsea and Kathleen came over. While we waited for Melissa we watched Coyote Ugly. I washed the plants. Then, we walked to the bus stop and went to the mall. I met Melissa’s Friends and hung out with them while everyone else was watching a movie. Margiel and John came, and soon everyone came out of the theater. We took pictures, and surprisingly we were all matching in rainbow colors. We didn’t plan on who wore what color, it just worked out well. Then, everyone got yogurt. Melissa and I went to get a “purity ring”. I guess, it’s a purity ring if you pledge of abstinence. We just got a plain silver band, and plan to engrave it with a bible verse, like Hebrews 13:4.

Credits to MARGIEL WAGAS

Melissa went to get a spam musubi. John called me and said to call him when ate Penny comes. I just thought that was rude, because when I usually call him, he doesn’t pick up. And you should be waiting for your ride so that she doesn’t have to park and wait for us, since the new church location is much further. So, Ate Penny comes and I call John. He doesn’t answer his phone, until the third time I call. He says that he isn’t going anymore -__-. I call Kathleen and he didn’t bother to tell her that our ride was here. We had an extra seat, so Jojo came.

We passed by Chick-Fil-A. Their mascot was standing outside. We rolled down the window and waved. Ate Penny was like ‘Look, it’s a Chicken!!’.. but, it was a COW! Hilarious. We got to the new church and we have so much more space. We sing praise and Worship, then we learned the lesson from Kuya Jireh who talked about how we mostly honor Jesus and God, but sometimes we could forget about the Holy Spirit and how it’s a Trinity and they are all equal because they are all God.

Credits to ATE HELEN

After, we talked and Kuya Jireh took me home! THANKS! He told me that when the earthquake happened, he was on his lunch break (he works in Chino Hills :O biggest impact there) it was when he was watching Oceans Thirteen and the scene in the movie was when an earthquake was happening! Ironic, eh?

No Picnic, Mall Again

I felt horrible this morning with a headache, and threw up after taking medicine.

My sister took places four days straight. So, Ceejay picked me up. She bought me subway. We got to Aprils house. Kristine let Ceejay smell Kristine’s Tablets. She dropped it and it spread everywhere and stank up the room. We all left and stayed in the living room. Kathleen sings, and the best part was when she was singing ‘Runaway Love’. Margiel came and I hid under the table because I told him I wasn’t going. Then when he sat down on the couch, he saw me. I went on April’s shoulders.

We left to walk to the bus stop. We stopped to rest under a tree at Rowland Park. Then, we sat down by the bus stop. I was trying to solve a rubix cube while Ceejay was dancing for cars. The bus came and everyone was standing up so they got in trouble. We got to the mall and sat down at the food court. I saw Wesley and Tim. Everyone left except for Margiel and Kathleen so we went to Jollibee. Jojo came with Kristine; they left; Jojo came back with lily. Then Me, Jojo, and Lily, went off to find April and James.

We saw Josh, and we all rushed to him. Margiel, John, and Kathleen took pictures. Then we went up stairs to wait for our rides. Soon, Kuya Alex came and while in the car, I was reading the ‘Picture Bible’. It was a bible in a comic form.

We sang songs, and we went outside for the lesson. We learned about theories of atonement. Ransom to Satan, governmental, and moral influence theories were NOT true. Penal Substitution is TRUTH. It satisfies the requirement for justice. It captures the foundation of the atonement, which is God’s Love. It fulfilled Old Testament prophecies and broke Old Testament system. For example, people would sacrifice goats and animals for their sins to be forgiven, but there was an ultimate sacrifice, Christ, who died for the worlds sins, but whoever believes it is saved. The bible does not contradict itself. 1 John 2:2 “He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world.” John 3:16 "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.”

Peace

My brother dropped me off at Panda Express, and I see James and April. We walk out and see everyone else. We go with Kathleen to get her ice cream from Baskin Robins and when she came back her ice cream fell on the ground so she just ate the cone. Everyone left, so I just played Twister with Anthony and Tiffany, and I kept losing because Anthony would make it complicated for me to move.

I was waiting for Melissa, and Anthony couldn’t wait any longer so he left. I called up Kristine and talked to her until Melissa came. We bought Arizona and it was buy one get one free. I opened it before I got on the bus and the bus driver made me throw it away. April, James, and Jojo were with us too and we saw Gavin on the bus.

We reach the mall and we just sit and talk and eat. We go down to Jollibe and Chow King. I went with Ceejay to take pictures of random people. I bumped into Priscilla. Then, I went shopping with Krisitine and Melissa. I bought a silver necklace that said ‘Peace’. We went back to the food court, and I eat. Ate Penny picks us up and Lidia, Kathleen, Jojo, and Margiel come minutes later.

We played a game, then we had the lesson inside a storage room. God loves Christ more because He does not idolize anyone be He is God. I need to know how to answer questions if a non believer has one.

Loads of Entertainment

Today, my sister dropped me off where Coffee Bean used to be. I wait at the stoplight, and I see Annie Ko. We walk together at the lunch tables. I hugged everyone and greeted Ron a happy 18^th birthday. The bell rang and everyone got out. I played card games with April, James, and Kathleen. I played April speed, but lost cause she has fast reflexes, so Julliene plays her.

Margiel takes pictures with his Nikon. Everyone starts dancing. Tiffany camera whores on Margiel’s Nikon. We end up leaving at 2:30 for the mall. We got to the bus stop and wait. We get on, and I try to find a comfortable way to sit.

Finally arrive at the mall, and meet up with everyone else. We buy tickets for the 3D movie ‘Journey to the Center of the Earth.’ Margiel is about to take a picture of Kristine and I, then Kathleen spits out her gum and it lands on Kristine. Kristine and I get food at L&L and play the I praise God for.. game. I wanted to buy sandals so we walk towards Burlington and Angelo comes along.

I choose the silver ones. I count my money and I’m two dollars short so Kristine lends me money. Then, Kristine looks for something to buy her mom for her birthday. We all laugh because she was looking in the aisle with size large and her mom is size medium. It took forever! But it was entertaining. Angelo was really amused by the wii controller filled with gum.

We walk into the theater. The movie was unrealistic, but I still liked it. It wasnt scary, but it definitely got into an unexpected BOOM, so I scream. When I walked out of the theater I felt water on me and it was Anthony’s squirt thing. Anthony lost his sunglasses, so we go back and look for it, but nothing.

We go back out and I see a guy that can pass for John De Castro, weird. I go up and John pays for my yogurt! THANKS kuya Jireh for picking us up and bringing us to bible study!

I learned that you can BUY a child in Haiti in under ten hours. There is a lot of child slavery going on around the world today. I learned that Christ paid for the sins of the world, but it was to whoever believes in him. Some religions consist of sacrifice or praise to an animal so that their sins are washed away, but only Christ can wash away our sins and you need faith and repentance. Romans 3:23-25 says for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God’s righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins. I prayed with Melissa! Then, we sang Benediction.

Dont do it, Dont care

From Dictionary.com; Definition of gossip: idle talk or rumor, esp. about the personal or private affairs of others. See SCANDAL. Scandal is rumor or general talk that is damaging the reputation. In freshmen year, the drama I dealt with was because of gossip. I would say most of the drama is because of gossip. In Leviticus 19:16, “You must not spread false stories against other people, and you must not do anything that would put your neighbor's life in danger. I am the Lord.” Talking about gossip is not only sin, listening to it is bad too. I read a quote that said, “Be more concerned with your character than your reputation because your character is who you are and your reputation is what others think about you.”

This brings me to my next rant. If your reputation is what others think about you, you shouldn’t care because you should only care what God thinks of you. Focus on Him, and center your life on Him. If you care, you would most likely not be yourself around people. This leads to your desires to look different, or dress different, or act different. We don’t need that, we just want that. We are caught up in worldly things. 2 Timothy 2:22, “Flee the evil desires of youth, and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.”

i think that the closer you get to someone the closer you are realizing if they are a true friend or not. And slowly as the years go on, you lose friends you never thought you would.

Another Week

Ahh, afterschool, i went with Gail and Azzedine to Nogales. We find out Mark and Bryan are there. April, Kristine, and Angela come. Then, Melissa and Chelsea come. We hang out in the middle of the parking lot. Then, i was hungry so i bought some nachos from 'Chiquiles'. It was only me and Kristine, so we walked towards Nogales Burgers. We saw Melissa and Chelsea sitting beside CVS. They tell us they're at KFC, so we walk there. We eat and throw trash at each other. Hiding James' phone.




Then, we walked to the bus stop and waited there for half an hour. Dropped our bags at CFBC, and went to Creekside Park. Me and Kristine pulled off these feathery leafy things, and walked towards the bench table. We sit and hang out, until we see the ice cream truck and run for our lives. John gets a strawberry Popsicle. Kristine gets a Pineapple one, i get sherbert one, and Jojo gets a green apple one.

Bible Study started. We sang songs of worship, i absolutey like the lyric 'His love endures forever'. God's will love us forever and ever! The lesson was a continued lesson from last week, creation. Kuya Caleb taught the first half, then Kuya Jireh. I learned that God is selfish, and jealous, but those are good things. I learned that God did everything for us, but ULTIMATELY, for himself.

Prayer time, i prayed with Ate Jennifer for the first time. We exchanged prayer requests, and i decided to pray aloud. (: