Just a pilgrim travelling thru ...

The dictionary defines a gypsy as someone who is inclined to the nomadic, unconventional life. Gypsygotsoul is a blog that shows how my travel through life is significantly influenced by my faith in Jesus Christ. My travels around the world are made one step at a time, with the gospel and God's word as my fuel. Obeying and pleasing Him is my life map. I pray to continually have a pure heart and beautiful feet.I am an educator: I have degrees in both Economics and Early Childhood Education and would love to work in Educational Research. I am also a newlywed, and loving it! I love simple things in life: watching sunrises and sunsets, fellowship, friendship and community, cooking, art, quilting, knitting and a whole lot of reading.

[gypsygotsoul]

Happy 3 months our dear girl! This month is starting out to be a fun one - longer naps (ish), lots of cooing, vocalizing and smiles, and lots of activity. You like to remove all your hats, socks and gloves - and find joy in kicking off your swaddles. You like to sing along to hymns and do one with us every night (Be thou my vision and In Christ alone are current favorites). You enjoy going places and get excited to ride the car. You are starting to grab and hold onto your toys and wubbanub. We feel blessed to be your parents, anak! https://www.instagram.com/p/B8NsX73Hs7-/?igshid=1cmt6d9s8yxld

[gypsygotsoul]

32 years of God's faithfulness. I spent my birthday weekend with the stomach flu. In the thick of it, I was grateful for the following things - a hardworking husband who took some unpaid days off just to take care of me and Hiraya, the Lord protecting Hiraya and hubby with good health and also good sleep, and also sleep for myself as the weekdays of motherhood are long especially when the LO needs some extra snuggling at night. I wouldn't trade it for anything though. I lie down and sleep, and wake again, for the Lord sustains me. Psalm 3:5 https://www.instagram.com/p/B778ZxenShV/?igshid=1ir2e41otptqe

[gypsygotsoul]

Lately, there are a lot of personal health things that are popping up weeks after each other. It gets a little overwhelming at times, and there have been many times where I have to take a pause, stop and pray, or every emotion will just pile up on top of each other. Through all this, I am learning of my complete dependence on the Lord - true there are daily roles and responsibilities that I am able to do; however, there are still a lot of things that are beyond my control. I am learning the limits my body in terms of the health issues that I face. 

Still having to learn and relearn that God is good, He is faithful, and He is in control.

[allscripture]

“But He was pierced for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on Him, and by His wounds we are healed. We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way; and the LORD has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.”

— Isaiah 53:5-6 (NIV)

[thesovereignword]

Christian,

Pray for celebrities. Pray for your next door neighbor. Pray for random people you see walking down the street. Pray for your professors, and bosses, and coworkers, and news anchors, and mailmen. Pray for your bus driver, and the local librarian, and the homeless man standing on the side of the road. That person you’re having trouble forgiving—pray hard for them. Pray for friends, and family, and enemies, and strangers. Pray.

[gypsygotsoul]

Jesus paid it all, all to Him I owe. Sin had left a crimson stain, He washed it white as snow.

- E. Hall (1865)

[myheartbelongstochrist]

[heryearnings]

Madeline Art

[thesovereignword]

“Study to know Him more and more, for the more you know, the more you will love Him.”

— George Whitefield (via heartcrymissionary)

[thesovereignword]

“Nothing short of God can satisfy your soul.”

— John Wesley

[gypsygotsoul]

Gratefulness in all circumstance

This week has been a tough week, in terms on symptoms. Pain in my joints, muscles and bones, bouts of insomnia & night terrors at night and fatigue in the daytime, and having to experience a lot of nausea and digestive issues has been affecting me a whole lot - I have been irritable, tired and whiny about it all. Worst of it all is that I am aware of it, but like a car accident, I just seem powerless and watch it happen.

But am I powerless or truly just a slave to my circumstances, my emotions and my sin? I am reminded of an illustration that one of our pastors shared last Sunday while preaching from 1 Timothy: one wherein he described a glass of water that upon first glance seems perfectly clean and devoid of impurities, but when a spoon is used to stir it, sediments easily rise up and we are shown that it isn’t as clean as we thought it to be. 

Graves’ disease is definitely not a trial I would voluntarily sign up for, but then again, are there truly trials we would easily want to add to our lives? I get used to comfort pretty easily, and get spoiled even with a comfortable couch. Without scripture to center me, I easily veer off track and start thinking of temporal things, instead of God’s glory, His kingdom, and His will. What God is teaching me in this season, is that as much as I love Him (and praise Him for that indelible and irresistible grace), I need Him every hour.

I’m reminded of a lot of verses but hopefully this specific one can encourage you as well. Psalm 119: 143 - 148 says, “pain and trouble have overcome me: but your teachings are my delight. The righteousness of your unchanging word is eternal; give me wisdom so that I may have life.  I have made my prayer with all my heart; give answer to me, O Lord: I will keep your rules.  My cry has gone up to you; take me out of trouble, and I will be guided by your unchanging word.  Before the sun is up, my cry for help comes to your ear; my hope is in your words. In the night watches I am awake, so that I may give thought to your saying. “ 

[gypsygotsoul]

Thanking the Lord for the gift of Caleb to the Corderos. Like I mentioned during the speech, our prayer is that you grow up accepting the gift of the gospel, obeying and honoring your parents and being able to love and serve others as Christ has shown us through His life and His humility. We love you so much, baby Caleb and my heart melts when I hold you. @chill.cordero , miss you! https://www.instagram.com/p/BtMWvB1F7dA/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1fes14tv9o4nt

[gypsygotsoul]

Au revoir dinner with the Bonifacio cousins. If ever you are in Manila and would like to try upscale Filipino food, Crisostomo's is a must try. We also highly recommend their dessert menu, this frozen brazo de mercedes is one of the many good things in it. Also, pick up a copy of Noli me tangere while you're at it for a slice of culture (you can read it in tagalog, english or the original spanish if you'd like 😅). (at Crisostomo's) https://www.instagram.com/p/BtTBz3KFPtr/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1892ocy6ktwce

[gypsygotsoul]

Very cool chandelier at my godson's lunch reception. Praising the Lord to be able to spend time with one of my bestest best friends @chill.cordero or as Anne of green gables terms, a kindred friend. ♡ https://www.instagram.com/p/BtMVzqzluHM/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=ev19ag0ran4p

[gypsygotsoul]

[01/27/2019] Very foggy morning and cold. Leftover chicken noodle soup and toast seem fitting. Funny that these letters randomly showed up on my spoon, although needing to be rearranged. https://www.instagram.com/p/BtKIXspF5_L/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1av1dctlxnum8

[gypsygotsoul]

So much has changed around my hometown, most of the rice fields are not there anymore, so much more houses and commerce around. Found myself wanting to sing Belle from the musical, but got interrupted by honks and people milling about in the morning... that I barely heard the roosters 😅 But for a lot of the families in our town, things have improved for the better, there's better education, jobs and or businesses to enter, and food is much closer (no longer a 30 mins drive to a market) In a few towns over, a Japanese restaurant! And pretty good too! (at Hiromitsu Restaurant) https://www.instagram.com/p/BtTCuK4FDtv/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=18wmpcnfbzpj

[gypsygotsoul]

10-08-2018 [One Praise, One Challenge, One Lesson]

My husband has been challenging me to get back into journal keeping. Some health issues have made it extremely hard to be coherent or even to sit down long enough to sort out my thoughts, reflections, struggles, even if they still are a reality.

Will be trying to build up the habit, day by day. It started today, Monday, October 8 and began with keeping this 1BR space we have that the Lord has graciously provided. The sun is out and the fall air is slowly creeping in during the mornings. Wanted to start out by sharing one praise, one challenge and one lesson that the Lord is revealing daily.

One Praise: “ We proclaim how great you are and tell of the wonderful things you have done. (Psalm 75:1)”

Marriage is definitely not the only life state wherein God proclaims His goodness to us, but personally speaking, it is definitely fun. I praise the Lord for my husband and best friend Marty - someone who is quick to forgive, patient, humble and loving enough to always point me back to the gospel. It is definitely a blessing to be reflecting on His word together after church yesterday and confessing our hearts to the Lord together.

One Challenge: “ For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. “ (Romans 8:18)

A challenge for me in this season is to stay motivated in all that I do - it is discouraging to have to do way more extra steps or create a lot of lists to get through the day. But instead of grumbling in my heart, I will put on joy and contentment in Christ, knowing that ill health and a season of the unknown is nothing when Christ strengthens me. 

One Lesson: " And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.” (2 Corinthians 3:18)

Home-making is such a gift. I enjoy and am grateful for this season that God has brought to past. One lesson that I need to constantly relearn is that the home-making is not just chores - it is the attitude and motivation of the heart that is important. Do I serve my home and all in it with a glad heart? My Martha tendencies are often strong, and I embrace them knowing that only the Holy Spirit can keep molding me into who Christ wants me to be. Another thing to embrace in home-making - that no matter how well you scrub, grime and dust will come back. Oh, what a picture of our fallen world - something even being a homemaker, I cannot run away from. With a Christlike perspective, I can embrace the power of the gospel and praise Him for it daily. :)