goodbye for NOW

January 28 was the last night of 98.7 FM NOW Radio (though the 98.7 DZFE Classical radio still remains on air). For almost three years of listening, it was quite saddening on my part. This radio ministry has been a tremendous blessing. Through NOW Radio, I was able to find my home church where I got to meet beautiful and caring people and it helps me in my spiritual walk. I was able to meet people who eventually became dear friends to me. I was introduced to a lot of Christian contemporary music and got acquainted with the ones I used to know and hear. There were a lot of memories for NOW radio.

Some of my all-time favorite songs I’ve heard from NOW Radio: 1) I Can Only Imagine by Mercy Me; 2) I Don’t Want To Go by Avalon (FYI: This song was used by God as a confirmation to a certain prayer concern…and I’m very grateful to God for the confirmation.); 3) Adore by Jaci Velasquez; 4) The Other Side Of The Radio by Chris Rice (FYI: This used to be a “routine” opening song on Tuesday night two years ago.); 5) More by Matthew West; 6) Breathe version by Michael W. Smith (FYI: This was one of my comfort songs during my “dark nights of the soul”.); 7) Draw Me Close To You by Vineyard (FYI: Another comfort song of mine.); 8) Go And Sin No More by Rebecca St. James; 9) Thank You by Katinas; 10) Imagine Me Without You by Jaci Velasquez.

There were some “unknown” songs that God used to relay His Word to me. These songs were played in perfect timing for a certain moment of spiritual need (as if God is singing the song for me).

(Sigh) It’s really difficult to say goodbye. (What’s good in goodbye, anyway?) I will definitely miss NOW Radio (sob, sob, sob…). But I believe that God has a purpose for everything. (My mom kidded me that maybe God wants me to sleep early in the evening and not early in the morning. hehe) How kind of NOW Radio to end their program last night with my current favorite song – Rescue by Desperation Band! I think I was smiling while sleeping…hehe. :) NOW is gone but THE EDGE is near. :)

where are you

"Where Are You"
by Natalie (feat. Justin Roman)

[Justin]
(I know you are out there baby...somewhere)
There is someone out there for me
(I know there is somebody out there)
I know she is waiting so patiently (yeah) can you tell me her name? (Somebody tell me her name)
This life-long search is gonna drive me insane
How does she laugh? How does she cry? What's the color of her eyes?
Does she even realize I'm here?
Where is she? Where is she? Where is she? Where is this beautiful girl?
Who is she? Who is she? Who is gonna complete my world?
Where is she? Where is she? Where is this beautiful girl?
Who is she? Who is she? Who is gonna complete my world?
dadadadadada dadadada dadadadadada (where are you?)

[Natalie]
I'm staring out at the sky (I see you baby)
Praying that he will walk in my lifeWhere is the man of my dreams (right here) yea-yeah
I'll wait forever, how silly it seemsHow does he laugh? How does he cry? What's the color of his eyes?Does he even realize I'm here?
Where is he? Where is he? Where is he? Where is this beautiful guy?
Who is he? Who is he? Who is gonna take me so high?
Where is he? Where is he? Where is this beautiful guy?
Who is he? Who is he? Who is gonna take me so high?
dadadadadada dadadada dadadadadada (where are you?)

[Justin]
There is someone out there for me (there is someone out there for me)
I know she is waiting so patiently (so patient)
Can you tell me her name (can you tell me his name)
This life-long search is gonna drive me insane (that's right)

[Natalie]
How does he laugh? How does he cry? What is the color of his eyes?
Does he even realize I'm here?

[Justin]
Where is she? Where is she? Where is she? Where is this beautiful girl?
Who is she? Who is she? Who is gonna complete my world?

[Natalie]
Where is he? Where is he? Where is he? Where is this beautiful guy?
Who is he? Who is he? Who is gonna take me so high?

[Together]
dadadadadada dadadada (yeah) dadadadadada (I know you out there)
dadadadadada dadadada (yeah) dadadadadada

[Justin Talking]
Where are you?? I'm going to look all over the world baby
'Cuz I know you are out there
I know this might sound crazy, but I think I love you
dadadadadada (that's right) dadadada dadadadadada
dadadadadada dadadada (yeah) dadadadadada

Where are you??

========================================

i heard this song over the radio a day after i attended a dgroupmate's shower party. actually, it's my second time to hear the song over the radio. i just find the song so nice especially the line sang by the guy -- "I know she is waiting so patiently". it reminded me of our pastor's quotable quote -- "man is the initiator and the woman is the responder". i don't believe the "who is gonna complete my world?" line though...i believe we find our completeness in God and not in a person.Ü

this could be an appropriate theme song of the ladies (except the bride-to-be, the guest speaker, and this blogger..hehe) that night...hehehe Ü the love month is just around the corner, i wonder if many will ask this question -- where are you?? Ü (just a wondering thought!)Ü

Son reflectors

January 15, 2006, SUNDAY -- It's my second consecutive night to marvel at the night sky.  Last night I was in awe while staring the cottony clouds and the big bright full moon.  Tonight, the moon, still full and bright, is slightly hiding behind a big dark cottony cloud.  Ahh, I can't help but wonder at the greatness of God.  An old hymn crossed my mind... "O Lord my God, when I in awesome wonder, Consider all the worlds Thy hands have made, I see the stars, I hear the rolling thunder, Thy power throughout the universe displayed...Then sings my soul, My Saviour God to Thee, How great Thou art, How great thou art..." 

 

As I was staring at the night sky, I remembered something from Max Lucado's It's Not About Me...

 

The moon models our role.

What does the moon do?  She generates no light.  Contrary to the lyrics of the song, this harvest moon cannot shine on.  Apart from the sun, the moon is nothing more than a pitch-black, pockmarked rock.  But properly positioned, the moon beams.  Let her do what she was made to do, and a clod of dirt becomes a source of inspiration, yea, verily, romance.  The moon reflects the greater light.

And she's happy to do so!  You never hear the moon complaining.  She makes no waves about making waves.  Let the cow jump over her or astronauts step on her; she never objects.  Even though sunning is accepted while mooning is the butt of bad jokes, you won't hear ol' Cheeseface grumble.  The moon is at peace in her place.  And because she is, soft light touches a dark earth.

What would happen if we accepted our place as Son reflectors?

 

Boom...we, Christians, are supposed to be Son (meaning God's Son, Jesus) reflectors.  God is reminding me about this lately.  Reduce the human job description down to one phrase, and this is it: Reflect God's glory.  "And we, with our unveiled faces reflecting like mirrors the brightness of the Lord, all grow brighter and brighter as we are turned into the image that we reflect; this is the work of the Lord who is Spirit" (2 Corinthians 3:18 JB).  It's not about me.  It's all about Him.  I pray that all about me -- my body, problems, struggles, heartaches, hassles, talents, success, etc. -- reflect God's glory! :)

Narnia effect

I got to see the movie "The Chronicles of Narnia The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe" the other night through the generosity of a friend. I've read the novel sometime last year. As far as I can remember, the movie stayed loyal to the novel in terms of the story but of course I think not all dialogue lines were covered. But anyway, as I was watching the scenes there were some insights that crossed mind. I wanted then to pause the movie and write down those insights (which of course was not possible at that time). So here's an attempt to recall all those pieces of thoughts that crossed my mind while watching the movie...

Scene: the Professor asking Peter and Susan "based on their experience which of the two (Edmund and Lucy) is more reliable, more truthful?"
Well, I just thought of the many beliefs we encounter these days. It's a good guide question in making decision to what you will believe. Some say that Jesus doesn't exist. Then you can ask: which side is more reliable, more truthful?

Character: Valiant Lucy
A valiant little girl indeed! What strong faith she has! I saw it when she met the Faun, in her positive outlook in helping Mr. Taumnus and the creatures of Narnia.

Character: Edmund
He's a traitor. He is selfish. I was just reminded of myself in God's eyes. I'm a sinner who always betrays my God because of my selfish desires. But like Edmund, I also confess my sins, find God's amazing grace all the time.

Scene: Aslan came out of his tent and everyone bowed down on their knees.
I was just reminded by a passage in the Bible, "every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord."

Scene: Aslan endured the insults of the white witch and her cohorts and he sacrificed his life in exchange of Edmund's.
I remembered one of my favorite song lines "...and thought of me above all". I remembered the white witch telling Aslan that it is such a waste to sacrifice his life for a traitor like Edmund. I thought, it was logically correct. How could someone sacrifice his life for an enemy? But Jesus is just showing His abounding love and grace for mankind who always betrays him. I read it somewhere that this scene is like an illustration of Jesus enduring the insults of the Pharisees and the people and was hanged on the cross to die for our sins. But the great news is, Jesus didn't remain dead but He rose from the dead. Just like Jesus, Aslan rose from the dead and finished the battle.

Scene: Near the waterfalls, Jadis (the white witch) told Edmund: "You must decide which side you are." (I'm not sure of Jadis' exact words.)
I remembered Ron Kenoly's exhortation in one of his praise and worship album "It's either you are in the Lord's side or in the devil's side...there is no demilitarized zone." There is no middle ground, we must make a decision to which side we will be in.

That's it! If I could just pause the movie and reflect for a moment... Anyway, I had a great night watching the movie with my dear friends! I'm thankful to God that He has blessed me with such friends like achi and ahia! :)

wait

Lord,

I came into this wait lost, afraid,

and insecure and, worst of all, distant from You.

Yet You didn't leave me here alone.

You were always there at the end of my prayer,

waiting to catch me, hold me, teach me, grow me.

I know that every wait serves only one real purpose,

to move me closer to You.

Please help me to always wait purposefully,

because I can never be patient for

the next step that draws me nearer to You.

I can't wait.*

---------------------------------------------------------------

This prayer reminded me of my stay in God's waiting room before. I was getting restless and impatient then but God revealed things I wouldn't know if I didn't stay in His waiting room -- NOW Radio, Christ's Commission Fellowship, the joy of reading the Bible and other books as much as I want to, and lots of sleeping time. :)

Now, I think I'm in His waiting room again, getting restless, impatient and all, I'm learning to remember the things God taught me before and to always wait purposefully.

Right now, I need to pray this prayer...

Here is where I am, now, needing Your peace.

Here is where I stand still, waiting for You to help me.

Here is where I start to discover the purpose for my wait.

Here is where I worry no more, at least for this moment.

Here is my empty heart, given to You, Lord, to fill with peace.*

*these prayers are from "You're Late Again, Lord!" by Karon Phillips Goodman

song lines reflection

There are some lines in songs that makes me stop and reflect for a while... leaving me in awe of God's love and inspiring me to carry on.

 

"...and thought of me, above all" - "Above all" (I'm not sure if this song is by Lenny LeBlanc or Paul Baloche or a collaboration)

I really appreciate this line.  I could picture Jesus in my mind...he was bruised and beaten and hanged on the cross but still he was thinking of me above all these things.  I could imagine Him looking straight to my eyes saying, "this is for you!"  "Does He still feel the nails every time I fail?" (song by Ray Boltz) crossed my mind...this makes me want to undo all the mistakes I've made.  Thank God for his amazing grace! :)

 

"...to live our lives responsibly" - "The Mission" by Steve Green

I've heard this song many many times.  I've seen the hand mime interpretation as well.  But lately, this line stuck in my mind.  "...to live our live responsibly..."  one powerful way to attract people to know Christ is to reflect His glory in our lives.  No one could deny the testimony of a changed life.  :)

 

"...pagkat sa isang taong mahal mo ng buong puso, lahat ay gagawin..." - a song by Sugarfree (Panday teleserye theme song)

This song got a lot of radio air play lately.  I've seen its MTV and heard it interpreted by a contestant in a singing competition last night.  But this particular line of the song made me think...if a person could do anything for the one he/she loves, how much more should we, Christians, do anything for God!  I remembered the Jesus Freaks, persecuted Christians, Hudson Taylor, David Livingstone, Corrie Ten Boom, Amy Carmichael...  this line reminded me of the greatest commandment, "Love the Lord your God with all your heart..." Mark 12:30  So if God is asking me to wait at this point in time, I will gladly wait. :)

 

Hay, I just find God sooo sweet lately.  I knew I would not regret loving Him. :)

Are you stuck in God's waiting room?

Are you stuck in God’s waiting room?

Okay, perhaps “stuck” is the wrong term. You’d prefer to say “caught,” “trapped,” or “held hostage.” Or maybe, just maybe, you need a different perspective on waiting….

Whatever you’re waiting on – job, family, finances, health, anything – it’s all under God’s very capable and completely loving control. And that dreaded “waiting room” is where He’ll teach you more and more of Himself, if only you’ll let Him.

This is an excerpt from the back cover of the book “You’re Late Again, Lord!” The Impatient Woman’s Guide to God’s Timing by Karon Phillips Goodman. Well, I saw this book in a bookstore while waiting to meet a friend. I was struck and convicted by the title. How often do I accuse God of being late? I can’t remember. Thank God He always reminds me that His timetable is different from mine. The best thing is…He is seldom early but never late.

Thank you God for reminding me on this. I was getting anxious this early in 2006 for no reason at all.

So why should I worry if I’m in the gentle loving arms of an Almighty God? :)