Family Newsletter, Christmas 2008

Bim continues to serve as full time staff in our church and loves every bit of it. Aside from coordinating the Small Group Ministry, he has found many new challenges and opportunities in his new assignment as overseer of our 10:15 am Sunday Service with a congregation of about 200. He tries to stay fit by having regular visits to the gym with eldest son, CJ.

Jenny became a registered nurse and began her professional practice early this year. In her short stint with the acute hospital experience as an OR nurse, she was promoted from trainee to reliever status. In October, her application was approved by the nurse's board to become a professional nurse in Australia.

CJ, turning 16 by January, has grown to be a handsome man. He will be graduating from high school come March and wants to become an aircraft mechanic someday. His love for sports, particularly basketball, is his favorite pastime.

Jed, 14, loves playing his guitar and soccer is his favorite sport. He is a sophomore and likes preserving insects and even snakes! He has emerged with a well rounded personality and is a friend to everyone. He is active with the church’s youth ministry.

Daisy will be 10 in February. Her dream to become a chef someday remains and she wishes to put up her own restaurant offering the family's favorite dishes in the menu. Like Jenny, she has developed a love for crafts. She can cross stitch and is learning to weave.

Caila, 6, our little one, has began to read; it’s been her favorite thing to do. She is very fond of drawing and writing letters to Mom and Pop. She excels in her school work and is praised by her teachers.

Jenny will commence her training on January 5 with the Nurses Board in Perth, Western Australia and will begin her nursing practice as soon as she is granted a working visa. If all goes well, Bim and the children will follow as early as May. This journey has been traveled in faith. As of this writing, Jenny has not received her visa and she has a plane to catch on January 1! We are hoping for God’s best whatever the outcome is and you will surely know in our next letter.

May your 2009 be a year of blessing!

All our love,

Bim and Jenny

Enjoy Harmony in Your Home - Part XI

Manage your money well. Build your financial decisions around what’s most important to your family; remind yourselves of your priorities often. Figure out how you’re currently wasting money, and how you can save money without sacrificing a fulfilling family lifestyle. Scrutinize every area in your budget for ways you can reduce expenses. Before buying something, ask: “Do we really need it?”, “Can we make do with what we have?”, “How often will we use it?”, “How much care does it require?”, “Is it durable?”, “Does its design and quality meet our standards?”, “Is there information available to help us make our decision?”, “Is the price right? Could we find it at a secondhand store?”, “How much difference will its addition to our home and family life really make?”. Avoid debt and pay down any debt you already have. Save for unexpected expenses and large purchases like family vacations or new appliances. Learn how to invest wisely. Give generously. Develop an effective filing and bill-paying system. And better yet, have the adept spouse keep and budget the money. In my case, it’s my husband.

Johnny the Bagger

A very inspiring video! Please watch and make a difference!

The Nurse

The world grows better year after year

Because of some nurse in her little sphere,

Puts on her apron and grins and sings

and keeps on going, the same old things.

Taking the vital signs, giving the pills

To remedy mankind's numberless ills;

Feeding and cuddling the baby while answering the bells

Being polite with a heart bequething.

A caring heart, a gentle touch,

Oh how I long to see you well, that much.

In the little time, in my small little way,

"I feel much better", I pray that you say.

Longing for home and all the while,

wearing the same felicitous professional smile.

Blessing the newborn babe's first breath

and closing the eyes that are still in their death.

At times, taking the blame for the doctor's mistakes

Oh dear, what a lot of patience it takes!

Pulled a night shift and off duty at seven o'clock

tired, discouraged and ready to drop!

But called back for emergency special at 7:15!

With woe in my heart, yet, in my eyes not to be seen.

Morning and evening, noon and night,

praying, hoping, and doing what's right.

When I lay down my cap and cross the bar,

Oh Lord, will you give me just one little star?

To wear with my crown and with my white uniform, new

In that city above, where the Head Nurse is You!

The Big 40

JOURNAL ENTRY: October 3, 2008

I stopped counting at 33. Whenever someone asks for my age, I can easily figure it out with a little math by calculating the sum between my natal year and the current year. I bet you’ve done that too!

I just turned 40 today and I feel great! I was actually looking forward to this day for the past months. But am I ready for the inevitable? Where am I now? What’s in it for me?

I was bombarded with these questions. Fortunately, answers came rushing through from the back of my head.

Along with juggling a busy life, I’m also dealing with a great amount of change. I am entering a new stage of life and facing challenges that I have never faced before.

The BIG 40. Some say life starts here. How so?

Firstly, I now have specific nutritional needs that are much different from those of men and younger women. I have bouts of sudden mood swings, headaches, cravings, and all the other issues of pre menopause, so they say. It's crazy, but it’s true! There was a time in my journey when I looked in the mirror and—yikes!—where did that paunchy middle come from? I seem to gain weight overnight while battling fatigue, irritability, and all kinds of body aches!

Then, a need to forever tag along my reading glasses and catching myself plucking a few stubs of silver hair every now and then while launching two handsome boys into adulthood... the wake up call…. Yes, I’m definitely here.

Secondly, I have a better view of where I am heading. My priorities are in order. I’m done on the side of distraction by that gnawing voice inside of me. I guess I learned the lesson that too much inward focus can be stifling. It inhibited my ability to act, my inability to interact with others, and my service to my Saviour as well. It inhibited my ability to really grow.

For the past months prior to this day, I realized that when I started to begin to believe and not fear, act according to my faith, and decide to reach out and care, I found the answers to my questions! I felt more energized. Otherwise I continue to spin around and around and feel old! It's dizzying and confusing and oftentimes, I was led to make choices that take me out of my life’s mission.

The Almighty has been good to me. I have a beautiful family, a house filled with love and activity and a community full of opportunities!

So I'm moving forward.

I’m 40 and I’m glad I know where I am, who I am, my life’s purpose and mission in life. I have so much hope where forgotten dreams are coming to fruition! I will find myself doing things I have never done before!

My prayer is to shine for Jesus, and make a difference for the glory of my Father in heaven!

Praise Him!

Enjoy Harmony in Your Home - Part X

Use your time wisely. Set up a “control central” area in your home to organize and track your family’s schedule (consider places like a desk, countertop, or home office). Use a “daily hit list” to categorize the various jobs you hope to accomplish each day into seven areas: home and property, food, family and friends, financial, special events, and self. Then consider what you can delegate to others, and what you can delete. Move necessary jobs that you haven’t finished on a certain day to the next day’s list. Set realistic expectations for how much you and your family members can accomplish in a given time period. Make lifestyle changes gradually and rely on God’s strength as you do. Encourage each other and hold each other accountable as you all try to manage your time well while creating a better environment at home.

I LOVE YOUR BLOG Award

I am deeply honored to be given the "I Love Your Blog" award by Crown of Beauty. Thank you, Manang Lidj!

As instructed, I am to pass the award to seven others. I have numerous favorite blogs that I visit randomly and most of them have received the same award. So I am passing on the award to seven few that are worth a read. I can relate with the authors as I share similar thoughts, ideas, and experiences with them.

1. There’s no place like home. - Kelli is from Texas, USA. She is married with three young children. They are a christian, homeschooling family. I love her blog because I can see myself in her who loves her home and family. We share the same interests: baking, sewing, crafting, and most of all, loving the LORD!

2. Extravagant Grace. There is not enough words to describe this woman of God! She loves the Lord and that is reflected deeply in her writings. She is a wife and a stay-at-home mother of four children. She has a bachelors in English Writing Arts and is an editorial assistant for a science journal, a web designer and editor, and a desktop publishing designer. She is a freelance writer for Faith Lifts (that’s where I found her). Her experiences tell a message to all her readers, that God's love is amazing and His extravagant grace is available to all of us.

3. Fiddledeedee. If I want to have a good laugh, I come to this site. DeeDee is a fun loving writer, witty, full of surprises, yet, filled with amusing facts and realities about her life as a woman of God! She, too, is a homeschooling mom to her three children.

4. My simple kitchen. I love this site. Aimee is a great cook and her recipes are brilliant! She started this blog as a place to share recipes with her readers and to inspire to cook loving meals for our families. And of course, she loves Jesus!

5. Im an organizing junkie. Laura loves to organize! She is a mom to three active kids. Her tips and awesome creativity gives me ideas on making my house a home to my family.

6. Waking Up. Musings by a dreamer. Ariel Allison Lawhon is a writer, a novelist… and a dreamer. Her musings are deep that touches the recesses of the soul.

7. A few Scraps. Christina is thirty something…. So am I. She quilts… and so do I. She is a mother… me too! She is a nurse… and I am too!

According to Crown of Beauty, there are a few rules that go with this award. You have to pass on this award to seven other blogs. Just add in a short description of each of the blog and the reasons why you are giving the award to.

Rules:
1. The winner can put the logo on their blog.
2. Link the person you received your award from.
3. Nominate at least 7 other blogs.
4. Put links of those blogs on yours.
5. Leave a message on the blogs you’ve nominated.

Pass on the award, meet new friends, see how creative our God is in the unique lives of the people He has created... and have fun!

What about... DREAMS?

(In my dream, I saw myself on this ship... I think I know where this is at ... ah... that's between me and my God )

I was just reading a recent post of my friend’s: It will take Forever. Talking about dreams... there's this saying from a certain Asian guy that says, "Who looks outside, dreams, Who looks inside awakens". And another that mentions one of the three things in life that are never certain, "Dreams".

I dream a lot... you may say, I'm a dreamer. I am. I have dreams for my family, for myself and most of all, I dream that someday, I will arrive at the place and dwell in the house of my Heavenly Father forever!

Spiritually speaking, according to Bryan Carraway, in his article, “A Theological Look at Spiritual Dreams”, dreams are one of the most overlooked forms of communication used by God. The Word of God consistently reveals God as speaking to people through this universally experienced and mysterious phenomenon.

The Lord uses dreams for a variety of purposes:

- to warn global leaders of future events. (Gen. 41:1-8)- to provide revelation to His prophets Num. (12:6)- to warn us against certain decisions. (Matt. 27:17-19)- to reveal His divine destiny for our lives. (Gen. 37:5-8)- to answer our recent petitions and prayers. (I Kings 3:5-15)
Acts 2:17 confirms that God continues to use dreams as a means of communication in the New Testament age. Since this is the case the question must be asked, "Are all dreams from God?" Are we to wake up every morning looking for some hidden, spiritual message in our dreams? The answer is no.

Dreaming is a natural physiological function that is common to every human being and is necessary for maintaining adequate mental and emotional health. If one is deprived of REM sleep (the sleep cycle at which dreaming occurs) for a substantial length of time the person can incur serious medical and mental complications. So while most of our dreams are just the result of natural human functioning, every Christian needs to be aware that sometimes God uses this natural function in a supernatural way.

When to know a dream is from God, i.e. a "spiritual dream," and when it's just a natural dream can sometimes be hard to discern. No doubt it's a very subjective experience but most of us have had the feeling that some dreams are not like the rest. The images linger, the emotions are strongly affected, and we get this feeling that what we just experienced is a message from above; a message that needs explanation. When we do receive a spiritual dream they are usually one of three types.

1. Warning Dream - This type is meant to warn us about some future attack from the enemy or some difficult time ahead. This could be a warning about a friend, spouse, or child. These are given so that we might pray and intercede for the individual. Often times the calamity is not decreed from above and through prayer the hardship can be avoided. Example from Scripture: Abimelech warned not to sleep with Abraham's wife. (Gen. 20:3-7)

2. Confirmation Dream - This dream simply confirms that what you believe to be true about a person or situation is in fact true. This type of dream is used to give you the emotional impetus to act on what you already know to be true but have thus far been unresponsive towards. Example from Scripture: Pilate's wife's dream confirming that her husband should release Jesus from custody. (Matt. 27:17-19)

3. Prophetic Dream - A dream which reveals the future concerning yourself, another individual, a nation, etc. Example from Scripture: As a 17 year old, Joseph dreamt about his future place of honor and high governmental service. (Gen. 37: 5-8)

Spiritual dreams are God's sole prerogative, so we must always be ready. When they do come we need to quickly record them and then begin to pray for the interpretation. Spiritual dreams when heeded, keep us in the will of God and remind us that we do indeed serve a God who knows us intimately and who takes the time to speak to His children individually for our own safety and care.

As for me, I consider it as a gifting. God speaks to me in my dreams. Having to discern a dream takes confirmation in my spirit and His word. Yet, oftentimes, God reveals Himself to me through a prophetic dream, just before an event in my life happens.

My dreams are simple, yet, they give me hope and encouragement. Most of all, my dreams are from within, which God, Himself, the dream giver establishes. Lastly, my dreams are always certain, knowing that they are from the Father.

Did Jesus Use a Modem?

I have heard this poem once recited on air at my favorite christian radio station. I thought I'd share this. It's a simple poem, yet points out to the realities of how much modern, high-tech world eats up most of our time rather than having an intimate fellowship with our God.

God bless you as you read this poem.

ooo00000ooo

Did Jesus use a modem,

At the Sermon on the Mount?

Did He ever try a broadcast fax,

To send His message out

Did the disciples carry beepers,

As they went about their route?

Did Jesus use a modem,

At the Sermon on the Mount?

Did Paul use a laptop,

With lots of RAM and ROM?

Were his letters posted on a BBS,

@ Paul.Rome.Com?

Did the man from Macedonia,

Send an E-Mail saying "Come?"

Did Paul use a Laptop,

With lots of RAM and ROM?

Did Moses use a joystick,

At the parting of the Sea?

And a Satellite Guidance Tracking System,

To show him where to be?

Did he write the law on tablets,

Or are they really on CD?

Did Moses use a joystick,

At the parting of the Sea?

Did Jesus really die for us,

One day upon a tree?

Or was it just a Hologram,

Or Technical Wizardry?

Can you download the Live Action Video Clip,

To play on your PC?

Did Jesus really die for us,

One day upon a tree?

Have the wonders of this modern age,

Made you question what is true?

How a single man, in a simple time,

Could offer life anew?

How a sinless life, a cruel death,

Then a glorious life again,

Could offer more to a desperate world,

Than all the inventions of man?

If in your life, the voice of God,

Is sometimes hard to hear.

With other voices calling,

His doesn't touch your ear.

Then set aside your laptop and modem,

And all your fancy gear.

And open your Bible,

open your heart,

And let your Father draw near.

~Authour Unknown~

Pastor Dudley's visit

Our church was priviledged to have with us, Pastor Dudley Rutherford of Shepherd of the Hills Church, USA last Sunday, August 10th. Pastor Dud's visit was made possible by the grace of God and the efforts of my very dear friends, Rodel and Maryann Concha.

Pastor Dud, you were a blessing!!!! Come back again and be assured that you have a family here in Bacolod, Philippines praying for you! God bless you and your ministry!!!