The More Important Question

Sweat dripping on my face as I tried with all my might to sit still and tolerate the heat that I was feeling.

Graduation rehearsals - one of the stickiest and irritable yet fondest last memories that I had in college. Never mind the uncomfortable feeling brought by the toga donned on us and the high heels we were wearing as we tried to perfect the walk, the sitting and standing, even the clapping, while at a covered court that's undeniably humid. It was worth the attendance, nonetheless.

For that three days of attending our graduation rehearsals, knowing too well of the emotional and reflective person that I am, I opted not to touch on or think of anything that would trigger my emotions to overcome and eat me. But then every time I would go back to my seat after playing pretend of getting my diploma on the stage and as I would watch my fellow graduates to each have their own turns, I couldn't stop myself to look back and ask a question to myself. DID I MAKE IT COUNT?

My college life that is.

How do we even measure the answer to such question?

By the distinctions you achieved? By the numbers of medals around your neck? By the organizations you became part of? By the grades you got? By the exams you aced? By the friends made and enemies you forgave? By the times you decided to stand after a fall?

I imagined God standing at the middle of the stage. Her name was called, she gracefully went up the stage and walked towards God to get the diploma, she paused as God asked her a question. What do you think would be the question? I don't think He would ask about her distinction, or how well she did in school, or how she behaved in class, not even the things she learned in college. More important than that. God has a question much much more important than that.

This might probably be my last entry for this blog site. When I decided to put this up, what was on my mind were students who I believe I can share the same experiences, frustrations, joy and delight with in honoring God and making disciples. Students who I can share how their same God would show Himself faithful to me all the time.

And what God has showed me through this blog site in that span of two hundred and thirty one days is this. As students, we are meant to do much more than learning in school or getting high grades, we are meant and called for a greater purpose. That is to shake our campus and make an impact to the lives of people by allowing God to use us in order for them - our classmates, even teachers - to see His glory.

This is something very much important and crucial for me because I met Jesus when I was in first year college. When I was a student. Let me say it again - in school, when I was a student. I came to know Jesus through students who allowed God for them to be used by Him, who radically and faithfully stepped out of their comfort zones to share their faith to me just so I would know my Saviour. Most part of why I passionately and deeply believe in the youth is because of this. I believe in students like you. I believe you can change the world by changing your campus. It can happen. We are never too young to make an impact in this world.

I know how terrible a student life is without a true relationship with Jesus. I've been there. And I know that there are thousands of students out there who badly need Jesus in their lives. Some of them might be your friends or classmates. Will you allow God to use you in order for them to come to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ?

God placed you in that school for an eternal purpose. And when it's time for Him to ask you that more important question, I want to believe that He also has a much better reward waiting for you than that of what we could get in this world.

If there's one thing I want to leave and remind us with as I wrap this whole blog site up is still gonna be this...

Honor God. Make Disciples.

“O Sovereign Lord,” I said, “I can’t speak for you! I’m too young!”

The Lord replied, “Don’t say, ‘I’m too young,’ for you must go wherever I send you and say whatever I tell you. And don’t be afraid of the people, for I will be with you and will protect you. I, the Lord, have spoken!”

- Jeremiah 1:6-8

Thank you Jesus!

To all the people who, by one way or another, became part of From One to Two Hundred and Thirty One, to those who dropped by and made time to read and comment, THANK YOU VERY MUCH! :)



DAY 228. SIGNING OFF. 03.28.11 2:50am

The More Important Question

Sweat dripping down my face as I tried with all my might to sit still and tolerate the heat that I was feeling.

Graduation rehearsals - one of the stickiest and irritable yet fondest last memories that I had in college. Never mind the uncomfortable feeling brought by the toga donned on us and the high heels we were wearing as we tried to perfect the walk, the sitting and standing, even the clapping, while at a covered court that's undeniably humid. It was worth the attendance, nonetheless.

For that three days of attending our graduation rehearsals, knowing too well of the emotional and reflective person that I am, I opted not to touch on or think of anything that would trigger my emotions to overcome and eat me. But then every time I would go back to my seat after playing pretend of getting my diploma on the stage and as I would watch my fellow graduates to each have their own turns, I couldn't stop myself to look back and ask a question to myself. DID I MAKE IT COUNT?

My college life that is.

How do we even measure the answer to such question?

By the distinctions you achieved? By the numbers of medals around your neck? By the organizations you became part of? By the grades you got? By the exams you aced? By the friends made and enemies you forgave? By the times you decided to stand after a fall?

I imagined God standing at the middle of the stage. Her name was called, she gracefully went up the stage and walked towards God to get the diploma, she paused as God asked her a question. What do you think would be the question? I don't think He would ask about her distinction, or how well she did in school, or how she behaved in class, not even the things she learned in college. More important than that. God has a question much much more important than that.

This might probably be my last entry for this blog site. When I decided to put this up, what was on my mind were students who I believe I can share the same experiences, frustrations, joy and delight with in honoring God and making disciples. Students who I can share how their same God would show Himself faithful to me all the time.

And what God has showed me through this blog site in that span of two hundred and thirty one days is this. As students, we are meant to do much more than learning in school or getting high grades, we are meant and called for a greater purpose. That is to shake our campus and make an impact to the lives of people by allowing God to use us in order for them - our classmates, even teachers - to see His glory.

This is something very much important and crucial for me because I met Jesus when I was in first year college. When I was a student. Let me say it again - in school, when I was a student. I came to know Jesus through students who allowed God for them to be used by Him, who radically and faithfully stepped out of their comfort zones to share their faith to me just so I would know my Saviour. Most part of why I passionately and deeply believe in the youth is because of this. I believe in students like you. I believe you can change the world by changing your campus. It can happen. We are never too young to make an impact in this world.

I know how terrible a student life is without a true relationship with Jesus. I've been there. And I know that there are thousands of students out there who badly need Jesus in their lives. Some of them might be your friends or classmates. Will you allow God to use you in order for them to come to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ?

God placed you in that school for an eternal purpose. And when it's time for Him to ask you that more important question, I want to believe that He also has a much better reward waiting for you than that of what we could get in this world.

If there's one thing I want to leave and remind us with as I wrap this whole blog site up is still gonna be this...

Honor God. Make Disciples.

“O Sovereign Lord,” I said, “I can’t speak for you! I’m too young!”

The Lord replied, “Don’t say, ‘I’m too young,’ for you must go wherever I send you and say whatever I tell you. And don’t be afraid of the people, for I will be with you and will protect you. I, the Lord, have spoken!”

- Jeremiah 1:6-8

Thank you Jesus!

To all the people who, by one way or another, became part of From One to Two Hundred and Thirty One, to those who dropped by and made time to read and comment, THANK YOU VERY MUCH! :)



DAY 228. SIGNING OFF. 03.28.11 2:50am

The Faces I Want to See In Heaven

We were in Victory Center Katipunan this afternoon when my friend saw on Yahoo! News about what just happened in Japan. All of a sudden my eyes were glued on the screen as we try to read the news. Then my other friends in the room joined us in conversation and told us about the tsunami alert here in our country. We were all in denial and wishing it wouldn't happen until a friend blurted out "Okay lang, sa heaven naman ako mapupunta!"

Since I made a decision to accept Jesus as my Lord and Savior and to follow Him all the days of my life, I wasn't anymore too afraid to die. Some people don't like discussing about death - especially their own death. I know this is gory but if I die today, you can ask my friend Mariel about all my bilin because we sometimes talk about our own deaths.

I'd like to believe that when I die I'll get to see Jesus in heaven. I'd like to believe that when I die I'll have a chance to eternal life. I'd like to believe when I die I'll see God face to face. I'd like to believe that when I die I'll be in heaven where there's no more pain or struggle. This makes me not so afraid of death. But I realize this afternoon, though I'm not afraid to die, I still don't want to die yet because I'm afraid I might NOT see the faces I want to see in heaven.

How about you, are you going to see the faces you want to see in heaven someday?

Don't get me wrong. We're not judging people here. We're not also saying that we are sure of going to heaven, and some people are not. But just a thought. That classmate you always see in school, have you shared Jesus to him already? That friend who've been so curious about your faith, have you gotten the courage to share the Gospel to her already? Your mom or your dad, have you already told them how Jesus changed your life?

I'm afraid to answer my own questions. I was compelled by these thoughts.

Romans 6:23 says "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord."

Good news are meant to be shared my friends. And we don't wait until a tsunami hits our country before we share it to someone else.

DAY 213 03.12.2011 1:35pm

I've Got An Excuse

I've found a good excuse lately to not make disciples...

"GOD, I'M GRADUATING! I'M LEAVING MIRIAM SOON SO I'M NOT GONNA ANYMORE JUMPSTART A SMALL GROUP OR START DOING ONE2ONE WITH ANYONE. I'M LEAVING ANYWAY!"

Just today God rebuked me.

We will graduate in school but we will never graduate in making disciples. Making disciples doesn't stop at graduations. We don't stop making disciples when semester ends. Certainly we don't stop making disciples especially when God tells us to "Go and make disciples."

I've been putting God down lately when He tells me to do One2One with these certain students, "God, are you sure? The semester is about to end!," because I've made up this rule in my head that when summer comes, we also take a vacation in reaching out to our friends and classmates, "God, that's so illogical, I don't think that's a wise thing to do" - even if He's already been putting people in my life who are very much open to the Gospel yet still I'm being reluctant to do One2One with because hey, I've got an excuse!

When God calls us to do something, no matter how many excuses we could think of, obey anyway.

Don't miss out on that opportunity to be used by God this vacation. This might be your friend's time to come to know God. And you don't want to be absent when that happens just because you've got excuses. Just go when God tells you to go. No but's, not if's, no excuses.

"Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” - Matthew 28:16-20

DAY 208 03.07.11 11:36pm

Big Ships Need Anchors

anchor (n.) is defined as a heavy object attached to a vessel by a cable or rope and cast overboard to keep the vessel in place either by its weight or by its flukes, which grip the bottom. It is a rigid point of support, as for securing a rope. A source of security or stability.

When I gave my life to Christ, my life didn't become storm free. Storms still come and in fact, sometimes they come in the most monstrous ways. And during these times when I experience the biggest waves and strongest winds in my life that I need an anchor - no ANCHORS at that, to keep me stable and still in the ocean.

One of the greatest blessings that I received when I decided to follow Christ are people who became not just friends to me but mentors and coaches as well. I'm thankful that early on in that walk, my first Victory group leader, Ate Ruby, had already introduced and surrounded me with people in church. She didn't put a boundary to keep me with just her and the girls in her small group but all the more she encouraged me to build relationship with the people in church. I guess the worst thing I can do as a Victory group leader is to have the girls stuck with me forever.

Over time, I've experienced being transitioned from one discipleship group to another. I hated it before. There was even a time I wanted to just quit attending leadership group. No one likes transitions, right? Especially this kind of transition. But in those six (or seven?) times that I was transitioned from one discipleship group to another, it was during those times that I got the best opportunity to grow and learn more, I got to be mentored and coached by different women of faith and character. Like anchors to vessels, they are the ones - everyone of them until now even if I'm no longer under their discipleship group - who help me keep in place, who give support and make me stable.

Throughout time, I learned how important it is to not just limit myself with one person who will mentor and coach me but let others speak into my life as well. If you want to be a big ship, you need multiple anchors to grip the bottom for you in order to keep you stable. If you want to learn about different areas like faith, character, leadership, discipleship, it's okay to run to someone else who will best help you in that area aside from your discipleship group leader.

Everything that I am now I owe to the people who have been so good and patient to teach me, coach me, spur me, mentor me, correct me and be there for me.

I thank God for Ate Ruby for teaching me to love Jesus and love others, for helping me lay a strong foundation.

I thank God for Domz for being my prayer warrior, for teaching me a lot about faith and prayer, for helping me believe that God is a God who performs miracles and wonders.

I thank God for Sharon for being the best listener, for being an example of excellence and patience, for encouraging me that I can make disciples.

I thank God for Gaviene for teaching me to really dig down deep in His word and to not be contented with just reading my Bible alone but to also read a lot, listen to podcast and do any means I can to know God more and deepen my relationship with Him. For encouraging me to reach out to my campus and to raise up leaders.

I thank God for Eva for teaching me to engage the lost, to be not ashamed of the Gospel, for giving me visions for my campus.

I thank God for Babes for being a testament of God's blessings and favor to me. I learned from her that I can dream big because God is BIG, for teaching me in areas of identity, character, love and relationships.

I thank God for Dar for teaching me obedience and not compromising, to study God's word, to just really love God and His word.

And because of ministry, I also got the chance to be mentored by Joey Molina. I thank him for teaching me in the areas of discipleship and leadership, for teaching me ownership, commitment and accountability, for encouraging me to go an extra mile for people.

We can't learn everything from one person, we learn it from different people. And I am encouraging you to surround yourself with people who will teach you, coach you, spur you, mentor you, correct you and be there for you. Just go ahead. Big ships need anchors. :)

Dar and I.

On my right is Ate Ruby, beside her is Domz.

With Eva, Babes, Gaviene and Sharon

Joey and Gaviene accompanied me when I received my Spirit of Excellence Award during our Training for Victory Graduation.

I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God made it grow. - 1 Corinthians 3:6

And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching. - Hebrews 10:24-25

DAY 194 02.21.2011 1:19am

I Don't Understand Why She Never Replies!

And I don't understand why for some people, not getting a reply to their "text blast" is a major boo boo.

Not until I became a discipler myself.

Yes, I have joined the club. I find it important now. So important I'm writing a blog about it haha!

Isn't it just so funny sometimes, why it's sooo hard to get a reply to a text message from someone? (All of the people who agree, raise your hands!) Things like when you text people "Hi girls/guys, please confirm if you're coming or not." or "When is your free time?" or "Can you make it or not?"

But wait, before I became that person who gives importance to getting replies or sending replies, I was once first the one who never cared to reply, hehe. :) I didn't give so much importance to replying to text messages until I became that person who has to get replies from people when I weekly text blast them for small group or for Night LIFE. Being a leader, or the one in charge for that matter, have taught me and made me appreciate this simple ethics which I used to violate many times way back, acknowledge a text message.

A friend once told me that not replying to text messages is not just anymore a habit but it has already become a culture to some people now. Apparently, I'm just one of the many who experience getting no replies, even at least to the important ones. So why am I writing about this? And what is its connection to "...honoring God and making disciples as a college student count?"

Simple, and I want to say this especially to the small group leaders and to those who want to reach out their campus, you will experience this yourself. That feeling of frustration when you carefully picked the most appropriate words so that your text would look nice and then baaam! No one even cared to reply. But you never lose hope, or give up. Your labor, as simple as that text message, is not in vain even if he/she would not reply, remember that.

And you've got to also LEAD BY EXAMPLE. If you keep on wondering why your small group members never confirm if they're coming to your small group or not for all the reason that they have, sometimes it's also worthy to consider asking this question to yourself: "Do I reply to my LG leader?"

We're all guilty of this crime. We all have our own reasons and excuses why we never get to reply. So I'd like to also list down some practical tips for all of us. :)

1. Don't delete a text message immediately. Check your inbox before you sleep at night. You might have received an important text message during the busiest part of your day and you didn't get the time to read it and reply that moment. When you check your inbox before you sleep, at least you will get to trace back the text messages you received that day. And it's never a crime to reply late.

2. Don't take text blasts for granted. A message with "Hi girls/guys" doesn't mean it's less important than a message with your name in it.

3. Don't be shy or hesitate to say "No" or "I can't." A "No" or "I can't" reply is much better and appreciated than a no reply at all.

4. Don't assume that when you don't reply, it will automatically mean "No" to the one who texted you.

5. If you have no load, what does your Facebook doing? If you can't go by the day without going online, why not send your reply thru Facebook or YM.

I'm not saying you make it your top priority to reply or you have to drop everything else when someone needs a reply. No. Just at least let him/her know that you give importance or that you care (or not care hehe). Don't you just love our campus missionaries? Or our disciplers? Our leaders? Mentors and all? :) For all the patience they have, for not giving up on us. For all the hard work. For still showing up in that meeting even if they're clueless if someone's coming or not. It's not an easy task, I think we owe them that simple reply. If you think by not replying you didn't send a message, guess what, you actually just did.

You, what tips can you share and add to our list? :)



DAY 160 1.18.2011 10:58am

What Are You Most Thankful for this Year?

We had a small party in our Victory group to end the year and celebrate Christmas. I wanted to make our last meeting for this year quite different than usual so as part of this small celebration, we had an activity where we listed down three things that we are most thankful for this year and then we shared it to the group after.

It was fun to see that everyone enjoyed making their lists and they even did it very creatively. When it was sharing time, it was very encouraging to hear some of the things these girls are thankful for. Let me share to you some of it.

Fae wrote "Victory" on her #3 spot. This girl was introduced to me just this month because she needs to finish a 15-hour church work requirement in her Theology class.

She said that she felt the warmth of the crowd when she first attended Night LIFE and as a shy person that she is, she was surprised at herself for being able to comfortably share her heart to the people whom she just barely knew. And even on her first time in church, she made a decision to continue on attending even after she completes her requirements in her Theology class.

Bea is thankful for the church for helping her find strength. :) Blessed by this girl for always being excited and eager to attend Victory group.

Gaea is the only UP student in the group and we're blessed to have UP represented! :)

Aside from passing UPCAT and being a Dean's Lister on her first year in UP (bigatin! haha), Gaea is thankful for being part of a Victory group. This girl, when she misses a meeting, would ask either me or Brenda about the lesson/topic we tackled for that day. Blessed by her willingness to learn.

Christine, on the other hand, is the only Ateneo student in our group and we are thankful for having an Ateneo representative around. Hehe.

Christine wrote "Ateneo" on her list. Comes with being a student from Ateneo are other many simple things that she's thankful for. One would be being able to join a Victory group. ;)

Brenda is thankful for being part of a church. She said that it keeps her encouraged.

I'm blessed by this girl for her compassion and heart for the lost. She always tries to invite her friends and blockmates to come with her in our Victory group and I've seen lives touched because of her heart for the people to know Christ. It was her who brought/invited most of the girls in this group.

Nothing but privilege. It is a privilege to know these girls, to share my life to them, to see them gain new friends, to hear their stories, to learn from them, to see them grow in their love for Christ. And that's one of the things I am most thankful for this year.

Looking forward to share my 2011 with these pretty, smart and lovable ladies. In behalf of our Victory Group, MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A BLESSED NEW YEAR! :)

Victory Group 2010

(L-R) Christine, Gaea, Brenda, Bea, Fiona

Fae, Yna, Gwyneth, Camille, Eri

You? What are the things you most thankful for this year? :)

DAY 134 12.23.10 3:43pm