They say that travel is the best way to learn things, and I’ve been privileged to be given opportunities to learn a lot through international travels the past five years — some for leisure, some for purposes bigger than myself.
I felt my heart explode as I reminisced where I’ve been the past years. I couldn’t believe how it was possible to have been to those places and have that kind of experience! Honestly, given my financial capabilities, I can’t help but be overwhelmed at God’s faithfulness and favor upon this little detail of my life.
2012 I was able to stay in New Zealand for three months. My cousins who are residents there offered to pay for my whole trip in exchange for babysitting my nephews, while they work. What I initially thought of as a simple trip turned out to be three months of intense training for “life.” I’ve experienced a glimpse of being a mom — cook meals, change diapers, be covered in vomit, put babies to sleep, learn the art of “diverting their attention,” clean the house, fix the garden, etc. and since New Zealand is an agricultural land, I learned bonus skills such as milking cows and chopping fire wood. 💪
2013 I went to Hong Kong to visit my aunt. I got lost a few hours before my flight home and discovered what it really means “to follow my gut feeling.” HAHAHA
2014 I got to embrace what it means to simply enjoy as I went to Singapore with treasured friends — my elementary best friend Karen, and best friend, Bea.
2015 was quite different. It was surreal. I went to Armenia. Never in my entire life have I imagined to visit this “Pink City.” In fact, I’ve only heard about Armenia that same year! We went there for a short-term missions trip. I learned to leave all personal inhibitions, come up to a person, say, “Barev! (Hello) Do you speak english?” with the hope of being able to bless and encourage the person at the end of the conversation.
In Armenia, I learned how a few words of encouragement can impact a person so much. I met a girl in a coffee shop there, and what I initially thought as a one-time conversation bloomed into a wonderful friendship, maintained through the power of social media.
2016 Brisbane, Australia — for another short term missions trip. Here I discovered that a bunch of people from a third-world country can share so much to people from a first-world country who seem to have all that they need.
I also knew more about God’s abundant provision as I had a birthday trip to Taiwan just days after Brisbane!
Every year since 2012, I’ve been believing God for at least one international trip. I was expectant this 2017. I thought of ways on how I can have the trip — Japan for a workshop, Laos with friends, checking on every seat sale to see if for some miracle, it would be possible.
As 2017 comes to an end, and as I finish writing this, it would be dramatic to say that I’m in a plane 35,000 ft above the ground, heading to a place I’ve never set foot upon…but God revealed that as I chose to widen my perspective, he shows how his thoughts are greater and ways are higher.
I wanted to have that international trip to know other cultures, meet new people, and have my heart expanded for the nations — He did exactly that without the need for me to ride even a single plane! I met people from Belgium, Brunei, Cambodia, France, Germany, Indonesia, Japan, South Korea, Spain, Taiwan, and Thailand through a few dinners we had with international students from the university near my office. We were able to talk about their country, talk about life, and develop friendships. When I went home from the last dinner we had for them last December 7, I can’t help but be amused and amazed when I realized that this year, I met more people from more nations than the past four years I’ve been traveling!
God has indeed surpassed my expectations and He can do the same in your life too.
You may have prayed for or desired some things this year that didn’t come to pass, I want to encourage you to look again, and maybe find something more precious than what you’ve asked for. Be expectant to learn new things — about yourself, about life, and about this big God.
Consider the word -
“…to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory ...” - Ephesians 3:20-21 (NIV)
I pray that you discover more of Him as you look back to the year that has gone, and look forward to the coming year! Have an amazing new year!
Here's a blog post to celebrate my 23rd Birthday! Yes, sorry to disappoint, but I am not 19! hehehe
Aside from the usual "Thank You" birthday posts, I'd like to share something different today. I hope that this post will encourage you.
Jamila Maria, that's my name. I love it! Jamila means "beautiful" in Arabic.
When I was young[er] I always knew beauty as a physical characteristic, the outward appearance. And at times...well most of the time, growing up, I didn't feel like someone who is "Jamila." I felt fat, insecure, and insignificant.
Then, things started to change in 2004. Someone told me about Jesus, and gave me an opportunity to acknowledge Him as my Lord and Savior. I knew that He is the Savior of the world. But never as my Savior, and my Lord. That was the first time I said YES! to God and to the life He has in store for me.
Years passed...and as I knew more about Jesus, what He has done for me, how He sees me—I learned to love myself. I found my security in Him. I felt beautiful, not just physically, but also deep in my soul.
3 Do not let your adorning be external—the braiding of hair and the putting on of gold jewelry, or the clothing you wear— 4 but let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God's sight is very precious.
1 Peter 3: 3-4
But it didn't end there! It was just recently, while my Nanay and I were randomly researching for names and their meanings, that I discovered something about my name that brought me to tears.
For God has not called us for impurity, but in holiness.
1 Thessalonians 4:7
I can live a life that is pure, because I was meant for this!
Whoever told you that being holy and pure is hard?! You're meant for it! It was the way God designed you to be! Hold on to Him, let Him be the one to lead you.
Tapos ito pa! I realized that before I even had the slightest idea of "God," I was already named Jamila right? BOOM! I was reminded that despite being dirty and filthy, despite my shortcomings and my sins. Even despite the many times that I attempted to run away from Him. He called me. From the very very start He knew me. He already planned to make me beautiful and pure.
In fact more than 2,000 years ago He already made a way so that I...WE [yes, including you] can be made pure and blameless. He gave His Son Jesus Christ as a sacrifice for our sins.
God has united you with Christ Jesus. For our benefit God made him to be wisdom itself. Christ made us right with God; he made us pure and holy, and he freed us from sin.
1 Corinthians 1:30
Amazing right?
It is only through Jesus that we are made pure. It is through Him that I can live my name, Jamila — beautiful and pure.
So let me take this time, to give all the glory, honor and all the thanks and praise to THE Creator, who from the very start knew and planned of my existence. The one who called me by name, made me pure, and loved me with this crazy, indescribable, incomprehensible and unconditional love. Thank you God, thank you Jesus!
I am so excited for what God has planned for the coming years, and as I wait, I hold on to this promise:
29 For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of His Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. 30 And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.
Just as the Sun shines at night when the Moon is in the right place, God shines in the darkness when we are in the right place. When we are in full view of Jesus, His love, grace, goodness, and power directly impact us. In that place, in the brightness of His presence, His light will reflect off us so that others can see, no matter how dark the night.
Whew. The past week weeks had been rough. I've been stretched and challenged in a lot of ways. It was tiring both physically and creatively, YET God showed me that He is in control-- that He is a God who gives strength, grace, joy, good designs and creative ideas hehe.
Now to those of you who are about to face a challenging day or week or month...I want to encourage you with this verse:
"but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint." - Isaiah 40:31
Put your hope in the Lord, rely on His strength.
And more than finishing the task or hurdling the challenge ahead of you, ultimately the best thing you can look forward to at this time is the opportunity to know God better. :] Have a great week ahead!
Last Friday & Saturday(July 11&12), I was so honored to have been able to dance with a group of people (with hearts full of passion for Jesus) for 4 youth services. It was amazing. The choreography, the music, the crowds, and the heart to bring glory to God. It was a huge refreshment.
"You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and the trees of the field will clap their hands." - Isaiah 55:12
And indeed, they did.
Had a short vacation in Mindoro last Oct 31 to Nov 3, 2O13.
Spending time in this little paradise is so refreshing.
January 14, 2014
There has been a fuss about the moon and the 22˚ halo around it.
I went out, equipped with my sister's tripod and my cousin's camera to try to capture the halo. But...I failed haha, the camera range can't seem to get any wider. So I just zoomed in and took a photo.
The moon in its simplest, no "jewelry" form—beautiful and breathtaking as always.
Inspired by God's Fingerprints blog, and Hillsong's Glorious Ruins.
I pray that we may find strength and everything we need in God's presence. My prayer goes out especially to those affected by Typhoon Haiyan, may God give them the strength and the grace to get back up.
Glorious Ruins by Hillsong
When the mountains fall
And the tempest roars You are with me
When creation folds
Still my soul will sour on Your mercy
I'll walk through the fire
With my head lifted high
And my spirit revived in Your story
And I'll look to the cross
As my failure is lost
In the light of Your glorious grace
Let the ruins come to life
In the beauty of Your Name
Rising up from the ashes
God forever you reign
And my soul will find refuge
In the shadow of Your wings
I will live You forever
And forever I'll sing
When the world caves in
Still my hope will cling to Your promise
Where my courage ends
Let my heart find strength in Your presence
