Colossians 3:1-3

Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your mind on the things above, not on the the things that are on earth. For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God.

I woke up today with the same thoughts I have last night, the anger I have with those who think they are always smart, who thinks they are always right and that pants from Sefra/ which I really want to buy but I am in the process of correcting my attitude towards spending, I am a full time student now with no definite income.

These are my battles today that I have come to God for redemption because I know that these are things I can not overcome by my own strength and wisdom. In the midst of what is happening in the world now, yes shamelessly, I admit that these are my concerns for today. I can't forward with my tasks because these thoughts cloud my mind. And yet I am grateful because grace has come to me to discern and surrender these all to Him. 

Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your mind on the things above, not on the the things that are on earth. For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God.Colossians 3:1-3

I have been reminded of who God is, His Infinitude and who I am in His presence. In my prayer today, it was revealed to me my unfaithful heart, neglecting my true lover, pursuing my own glory. Leaning on my own understanding and do not seeking His counsel for the decisions that I make. and worst performing not to glorify Him but not to frustrate myself with that underperformance. This journey has bee about me, all about me already. 

But God being who He is infinite with His grace and covered me with it amidst my self conviction, He revealed how I should be rejoicing for He has exposed it  by the work of the Holy Spirit not so to punish me but to make me come to grace, receive mercy and find it to help me in time of need. 

I am letting go and letting God. 

Romans 4:21

and being fully assured that what God had promised, He was able also to perform. Romans 4:21 

Everything in this world is vulnerable and that includes us. 

I could just have been a figure right now, a part of that 5235 that Yolanda took.

But He chose to have me breathing even at this very moment.

To praise Him and honor Him and share His faithfulness in me who is undeserving of His love.

Looking back 30 days ago, I still could not fathom how gracefully I have survived Yolanda. One thing is for sure though, I never stopped believing that I have a God who is greater above all things, who is in control over things and I just need to be still and be awed by His greatness. 

He gave me that peaceful heart and protected it all through out the ordeal. I can remember how I cried out His name in prayer together with my roommate Ate Che as Yolanda attempted to intimidate the building and my Faith blow by blow. But He can not allow it to last more longer that He put me into sleep before the wrath of the storm became strongest and scariest.

I woke up only after Yolanda's devastation, I haven't had any meal yet because all those times I thought that everything will still be the same and will just eat outside the hotel after the strong rain. Only to be greeted by a muddy ground floor, displaced fixtures, broken glass doors, flipped-over cars and the realization that my car is nowhere to be found near where I parked it. Yes I was struck for a while, but He comforted me with a grateful heart. He tucked me in the hotel bed, comfortably lying in a soft bed with the clean luxurious linen to keep me warm. 

His provisions became more abundant as He sent food right before the night engulfed the whole city and left us idle in the abyss of darkness of the storm's aftermath. He strengthened me with the concern of my colleagues as they searched for me and Ate Che the next day. He sent us to where exactly we should be that very moment, He led us to Leyte Park where information for our Exodus was planted, He made us see what we need to fend that day to prepare us for the greater task in line. In the midst of nothingness, I am honored to be chosen to honor and glorify Him as I am called to be a channel of blessings to other as we searched for food, medicines and water. It was the longest walk I took in my whole life not until the morning after. 

On the eve of our Exodus, it was revealed to me that to get out of this ordeal as fast as I could, I need not think of myself first but instead He wanted me to secure the welfare of others before me, that I need not worry, that all I need is to just trust in His greatness wholly. I am even tested twice to leave the group and marched on earlier, ahead of the group to secure a seat in the arm force aircraft. I almost gave in twice too. But I hold on to His Promise and pursue with His purpose for me that very moment. He provided us the strength to press on that walk until the very moment that He answered our prayer the night before, a lift from where we declare it to be up to the airport. He easily provided us our seats in the aircraft  when it was very uncertain until that very moment our names got listed. It was only when I got out of that plane that everything sink-in to me, I am very vulnerable. I wept as I am humbled by how much He loves me.  Again, I still could not fathom how gracefully I have survived Yolanda but I am so happy to understand that because it was not me, it was all GOD and how much wonders He can do.