Posted on Tuesday, January 13, 2015

Tuesday Thought: Transforming Word

Starting yesterday, the new Winter 2015 HelloMornings challenge has started and today we are reading from Colossians 1:3-8.

I read the passage using my New Living Translation – Life Application Study Bible. This version of Bible helps me to understand more in English (I highly recommend this version for non-native English speakers, if you’re looking for an English Bible to read). On the footnotes, there are reflections, study notes and applications for every day life walking in faith and with the Lord.

This is one of today’s reflections & applications on studying Colossians 1:3-8 that I learned:

“God’s word is not just for our information, it is for our transformation! Becoming a Christian means beginning a whole new relationship with God, not just turning over a new leaf or determining to do right. New believers have a changed purpose, direction, attitude, and behavior. They are no longer seeking to serve themselves, but they are bearing fruit for God.

How is the Good News reaching others through your life?”

Posted on Friday, January 9, 2015

Faith Is A Journey

In October 5th, 2002 was the first day I made the decision that changed my life forever. Buy then I realized that I could not be able to walk this journey by my self.

Without faith, I cannot. That I know. But do I live in faith? Do I walk by faith? These questions lead me to this verse again and again:

And it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that God exists and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him. (‭Hebrews‬ ‭11‬:‭6‬ NLT)

I came to know Him. I became a follower. I became a believer. But what is a believer without faith?

God. I need him. He is the faith giver. He is the hope giver. He is the only one who gives me the desire and power I need every moment to walk and to do what pleases Him (Philippians 2:13). And that power and desire is the Holy Spirit who lives in every believer of Him. Yes, God’s Holy Spirit lives in each of us, you and me.

We also need accountabilities and encouragements from fellow brothers and sisters in Christ.

My first accountability and encouragement God has out in my life is my husband. He uses my husband for His glory and purposes. Through his life, God blesses me and our daughters with love, grace, and encouragement that we need to grow as family.

And God also put brothers and sisters in Christ in our lives. You have them also in your lives. For me, God has given me a lot since the day I was adopted into His Kingly Family.

All of You are my brothers and sisters in Christ.

God use His church to encourage each other in your own church community. But also, there are small groups He provides for us.

For me, I found this HelloMornings group in 2013. This group has been a great blessing in my spiritual life. There are wonderful sisters I have met since then. They encourage me in ways I even cannot image. They are my accountabilities to walk with God every day. Together we grow in knowledge of who God is.

If you are looking for accountabilities and encouragements to walk with Him like I do, you still have time to join any HelloMornings groups that fits to your needs. Go HERE to join us. The next study will start on Monday, 01/12/2015.

And I wanna do something different this challenge. Studying & journaling every word He speaks to me.

Faith is my One Word to live not only in 365 days in 2015, but also for beyond. What is yours?

Posted on Friday, November 28, 2014

Shopping on Black Friday To Impact Lives In SEA*

Speaking of shopping on Black Friday…. don’t forget to stop by and pick this Advent Power Pack that you can gift as an early Christmas gift for you, your friends and families to prepare our hearts to celebrate the reason for this season – Jesus!

I have several link to our favorite stores with links to get the deals this weekend. They are affiliated links, when you make a purchase through these links, we will get a small percentage of the sales. There is no extra cost for you. All will be proceeded to our fund raising to go to the field.

Thanks for shopping!

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One of my favorite things to do with my kids during this Advent month is that to teach them all about who is the most important person that we celebrate on Christmas day, Jesus. We have 24 days to teach them the truth from Scripture reading and lead them to Him. And this is an activity that you can do every Advent, every year! Truth In The Tinsel is an ebook. It is only $7.99 and you will get the ebook, printable, crafts, activities, and more that you can do with your kids.

Click here to visit ohAmanda.com to get this amazing book!

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This Advent Power Pack is only for only $5, or $10 (if you want to donate), or $15 (if you want to donate and support HelloMornings ministry to women). Grab the pack here today!

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Black Friday Sale- 30% off entire store! Use coupon 30FRIDAY14 for 30% off everything at DaySpring.com (only excludes Markdown Specials). This code does include clearance and is good through 12/1. We have some awesome clearance gifts so click around and share your favorite deals. Check out these few great clearance finds below:

Everyday Joy Mug {pair this with the Greater Joy tote below!} — Clearance Price: $4.99 — with 30% off code: $3.49
Greater Joy Tote Bag — Clearance Price: $12.49 — with 30% off code: $8.74
Faith Gold Necklace — Clearance Price: $8.49 — with 30% off code: $5.94
Redeemed Wood Letters- Set of 8 — Clearance Price: $19.99 — with 30% off code: $13.99
Redeemed- He Has Made Everything Beautiful- Pillow — Clearance Price: $9.99 — with 30% off code: $6.99

Cyber Monday Coupon- 30% off Entire Store PLUS free Ornament on 12/1!

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Are you in need of craft supplies? Check out Close To My Heart! You can get high quality supplies for your craft and paper craft projects. While you are there, check out the Promotions of this month to save!

02 – Sarita L3

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Where you can get great deal every day, Pick Your Plum is the place!

This Black Friday, Pick Your Plum has so many special deals for you to pick, check them out (click on link or the picture to get the deal and to see more!):

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Do you have a blog? Or do you want to start blogging?

If yes, then the Blog Planning Kit is for you! Awesome kit, planner, and coaching. Check it out!

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MyMemories Suite 5 is a digital scrapbooking software.

It is a fun and easy way to create scrapbooks, photobooks, custom gifts and more!

Get $10 OFF + $10 Gift Card to MyMemories Shop, use this code STMMMS3393 at checkout (COPY and PASTE the code).

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This shop is a way to help us with our ministry works in SEA*, where we will be working side by side with the locals to equip them through trainings, to mobilize them and to bring the Good News to the people in language they can understand best.

If you need any special designs or customized orders, or any questions, please contact me.

Visit my Etsy Store

Let’s get connected with me at:

Facebook

Twitter

Google+

THANK YOU for shopping at our shop! Because of your partnership, there are more people will hear the Good News in language they understand best in their hearts!

Posted on Tuesday, November 25, 2014

HelloMornings Challenge: Advent Session

Advent is 6 days away from today! This is a 4-weeks season where we as Christians have been waiting for. The weeks when we devote our hearts, minds and attitude toward the day our Lord Jesus’ was born on. The weeks when we meditate God’s love, grace and joy He has given to us through His only begotten Son, Jesus.

My family is super excited with this season! We love to sit together after dinner, read the Advent Bible Reading with our daughters and I do Christmas crafts with them, too.

This is the season where we are not only sharing and spreading the joy through giving gifts to each other, but also, most important is that the season when we can rejoice in Him who loves us unconditionally by giving Jesus on Christmas day, knowing well in our hearts, minds and souls that He is with us. Immanuel.

HelloMornings provides a mini session on this Advent weeks. They have put together this awesome Advent Power Pack where you can:
– Study God’s word using Lara’s new book, “Then Came Jesus.”
– Journal His word using the printables provided.
– Worship Him with the new song from Shaun Groves.
– Daily reading will sent to your inbox (optional).

You can get this full Advent Power Pack today and come to join the challenge starting December 1st.

I cannot wait to do this Advent Devotion together with you!

How do you do Advent weeks with your family?

Posted on Thursday, October 16, 2014

Thankful Thursday: Given Skills and Abilities

I am at week 2 now on study of Matthew with HelloMornings Fall session. In this one of the Gospels, I have been reading until chapter 7 and I realize how detail Matthew wrote down each of Jesus’ teachings, warnings and commands.

This morning, I read from my NLT Application Life Study Bible and there is a little bit of introduction to Matthew and what God had done in his life: gave him new life in Christ Jesus and changed him eternally.

This paragraph came to my attention:

Matthew’s experience points out that each of us from the beginning, is one of God’s works in progress. Much of what God has for us he gives long before we are able to consciously respond to Him. He trusts us with skills and abilities ahead of schedule. He has made each of us capable of being His servant. When we trust Him with what He has given us, we begin a life of real adventure. Matthew could not have known that God would use the very skills he had sharpened as a tax collector to record the greatest story ever lived. And God has no less meaningful a purpose for each one of us. Have you recoqnized Jesus saying to you, “Follow me?” What has been your response?

What had been my response to Jesus’ calling?

What a big question today.

My response to His calling is my little Yes and thanksgiving to His calling. Back in 2005, He called me to follow Him to serve Him. Since then my life is totally an adventure with Him!

I had no idea since the beginning I started studying English when I was at Junior High School. I had a very strict English teacher at my 9th grade. She told us to use English every time at her class. And English is not my first language. I was encouraged to participate at English Speech Contest. What?! Go figure! But I had a friend who was there with me and helped me with my speech and encouraged me to try. I did not win but I am glad I tried.

Then when my family moved to the capital city and they sent me to a public high school where my English teacher asked me to be her assistant for 2 years. And there were some opportunities for me to tutor some elementary students learning English who went to International Schools.

My love of learning English kept growing and came to my mind that I would sharpened and improved my English by going to University studying English literature or similar study. My plan was that so I could go overseas continue my study to be Fashion Designer, and to get a better job than in my country, also to help my parents.

All those happened in time before I came to trust in Jesus. I was not a believer and follower that time.

I came to know Him and trust in Him 14 years ago. Surely God has beeen working in my life way ahead of schedule, way ahead of my own plans.

I am not an English Literature expert, nor a Fashion Designer. But I am able to read, write and speak English. I still love designing buy not fashion, but designing cards & scrapbooking. I can teach my daughters and friends, and also we have crafting time together. Something good comes out of that. I am not yet as good as others, I am willing to still learn from others and willing to try.

“For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him.” (Philippians‬ ‭2‬:‭13‬ NLT)

Stepping our of my comfort zone and dreams is scary but God is ahead of me. I want to trust Him leading me to live as He has planned for me. I am doing what I do now is because I am trusting in Him, because of He is the who gives me the desire and power to do what pleases Him. I cannot imagine if I kept pursuing my own desire to be a fashion designer or an English literature expert without Jesus and not knowing God’s calling.

Today, I am recalling all those series of events that happened in my life and reflecting where I am now and what God has called me to do right now is His plan all along since the beginning.

I am thankful for His gifts in my life. I am thankful for every skill and ability He has given in my life to use them serving Him right here, right now from home and when we are on the field.

I am thankful for every opportunity He has given to me to serve.

I am thankful for His calling, plans and schedules in our lives.

Friends, when God says, “I have a plan for you and your future.” He means it. Do you trust in Him? Do you trust Him with all your skills and abilities?

What God’s given skills and abilities are you thanking Him today?