Unexpected but Planned

Enjoy today! Rejoice for the Lord rejoices with you. Do not worry about others opinions. You are highly favored and so loved by the Highest.  6:41 am, Friday, June 9, 2017

I stood up and stayed on the balcony for a while. My tears suddenly fell and whispered, “Thank you, Jesus, for your love is amazing.” Looking at this from our hotel room, the view was nice. I got to see buildings, they’re huge and tall. The sound of a busy road, vehicles driving in the city. I liked it.

And I loved the fact that even we had struggled, at some point in our lives we almost have given up, but God reminds us that He can make impossible things possible.

U.S.A Experience. Unexpected but planned by God. In every state or place, we went to, He was revealing something to me. I love how God spoke to me through these events:

Atlanta, Georgia

Would you believe it? I don’t really have the budget for a luxurious vacation or something. Never had I imagine to travel this year. I prayed for unexpected blessings but I didn’t plan to be out of the country because if I would only look at my finances, never in the world I could possibly fly anywhere.

But God is GOD! His works are astounding. I know in my heart that during those times I suffered from extreme sadness and depression, one day I would understand why things happened. There must be something from it. I was hopeful of God’s revelations. HE did it again! And here I come, Georgia.

Hyatt Regency, Atlanta

Stayed in a very beautiful hotel, Hyatt Regency Atlanta. I together with our Pastor and leaders had experienced a quick fancy 1 night and 2 days in Hyatt. What a favor! It’s free for me.

Here’s the secret: if you are an employee at any Hyatt Hotel, you’ll have a free stay for three days (as much as I know) in other countries. That’s one of their benefits. Isn’t it cool? I love that! It makes me want to work in Hyatt. Two of them work at Hyatt Aruba so we had two rooms checked-in.

God is good.

When I think about it now, I realized, I didn’t have many photos of myself in the place. HAHA Oh well. The experience matters most. 🙂

God has already planned it. He knew that I will be needing this vacation. And I am thankful. It was so great to see buildings, honestly.

I’ve been living in Aruba for almost six years now, all I can see there are beaches and small establishments. It’s a small island so you won’t see huge buildings. Nevertheless, Aruba is a very beautiful island. But it is good to see something new, right?

I missed the kind of noise, wide and busy roads, and view in the city sometimes. It was a big deal for me to have experienced this.

Unexpected but Planned. Planned by God. He provides.

Five Star Hotel stay isn’t for rich ones only. It’s also for God’s princess who cannot afford. God provides, always.

Gainesville, Georgia

2017 Congregational Holiness Church General Conference

Few weeks before the flight, I had a call from my mom asking me if I want to come over and visit. Of course, I would love that. I did join the group first from our church, and attended the conference for few days.

The trip is not for a luxurious vacation, by the way, we were just blessed to have stayed in a gorgeous hotel for a few days in Atlanta.

The next day, we were picked up from the hotel to go to Gainesville where we will stay for the next days. It’s like almost two hours drive.

Union Grove Campground, Gainesville Georgia

We stayed in Union Grove Campground, Gainesville, Georgia. We have met pastors and church leaders from different states and countries. We are all under Congregation Holiness Church. It’s really a blessing to see their dedication to the Lord and to the ministry. They are doing great to share God to people and I am really blessed by their lives.

God has revealed a lot of things to me during this stay.

My heart melts, and I was really inspired by these people. I honestly cried at night during our stay at the campsite. God has been speaking to me and this experience is one of the confirmations I am asking for.

They are not young anymore but their diligence and dedication inspired me so much. Regardless of their age, they are doing their best, going on the mission trips, serving the people, cook food for the delegates from different countries, driving from here to there to let us see some places.

And.. wow! HOURS of driving. Not to mention all the countries and missions they went to just to spread the Gospel. It’s just WOW! How dedicated they are.

And I will repeat, they are not young anymore. I don’t know how they do that but I was really shocked. For them, it’s normal. but for me, It really touched my heart how these wonderful people of God exert efforts and strength for the ministry, for God.

My point here is, they are very serious about their ministry and it encourages so much that I desire to be like them. I have all the strength, I can still walk fast and do things or heavy ones to support a ministry, but I sometimes get tired easily, discouraged easily. Look at them, they are awesome, giving their time, their lives to serve people and to serve God.

Love for God and love for people

Wow! How and why do they do that? The answer. LOVE. They love God so much that God poured out His love towards them and leads them to love people. Loving God, loving people.

New Haven Church

The conference was held in CHC, New Haven Church

Thoughts like “Lord, what am I doing in my life? Why am I not sharing your love to people? I have all the strength, I am not old yet. I can still do things, but I always have excuses”

I am a worship leader at our church, I attend youth groups, Bible study, and teach kids tambourine dance. But I feel like God is speaking to me to do more, I don’t know exactly (or maybe I know, I am just stubborn)

I’ve been praying for God’s direction in my life. I am not asking for a luxurious life. I just want God’s will in my life because I know how it feels when I give joy to the Lord, it is my strength. We are created by Him and for HIM. God is asking more from us because HE has more for us.

Purpose

The conference helped me so much to see and be reminded once again our purpose. Make Jesus known. Go and share Him. Their hearts impressed me so much. Like.. really! Regardless of their age, they enthusiastically served people and dedicated their lives to the ministry.

I admired one of the pastors I’ve met there, Rev. JD Sosebee. (the man in the picture wearing sunglasses! Cool!)

He’s very cheerful and anointed. He drove from Houston to Georgia. 13 hours drive. Imagine that? wew! Quite a long drive huh? I do understand that it is normal for them to drive this long from state to state. I do understand that but I still admire him and others who diligently meeting up, fellowshipping with one another to glorify our King.

I am simply amazed. Most of the time, we,  the group from Aruba would be riding in his van. We laughed all the time. It was fun, indeed. And the sweetest thing I observed from him is from time to time, he calls his wife and shared what was happening in the conference, he talked about the people he met and say encouraging words. He still shares his thoughts and God’s revelations to her wife. And I melt. That was sweet. I would imagine myself and my future husband talking about God’s goodness and faithfulness every single day. Such an inspiration!

I also met Mrs. Cecilia from Africa. She’s sweet, we talked about God’s faithfulness in our lives and I also asked questions like how is it living in Africa, if it is difficult? I know that it is not as rich as America, she confirmed.

But I admire her more when I asked her “If you are to choose, where do you want to live? Here in America or Africa?” Her answer was Africa, where her family is. She is very humble and content. She’s happy serving God and her family in Africa. It’s all well to her knowing Jesus is their everything. We also laughed about things, how African could be really funny like “Emmanuela” (Anyone of you understand Emanuela’s humor? I do. Thinking about her now makes me wanna laugh. HAHA I love her!)

Eye-Opener

This event has become an eye-opener to me. They inspire me to do better and more for the Lord, what it really means to have a servant’s heart, and to follow HIM wholeheartedly.

What saddened me is… There were few young people there. I looked around and it is very few. Who would be the next to continue the ministry? Who would share Jesus with people?

And that is a wake-up call for me. What am I doing in my life? I’ve been praying to God to show me what He wanted me to do. If this is His answer, I would love to have that courage to do His will. If I am called for a mission, I would love to be equipped and be knowledgeable so He can use me. I don’t know where to start, what to do but I have the desire. It’s up to me now to do something.

Unexpected but God already planned this. He wants me to see what joy it could bring to Him if we do share Him with people. He blessed us so he wants us to be a blessing as well.

“God must be really wanting me to know that there is joy in serving HIM. If I am looking for joy and peace in my life. Serve Him wholeheartedly.”

Realizations

God never stopped proving me that I am a princess. From finances to wisdom, revelations, and realizations, he opened my eyes. He opens a door that no one can shut, he shut doors that no one can open. He does great things! And He truly speaks.

I could loudly hear Him telling me how much he loves me and gives me joy. And that JOY that I am looking and searching for can only be found in Him and in serving HIM.

Christian life is never an easy journey. We will experience ups and downs, joy and pain most of the time hardships, trials not to break us but make us stronger. But this journey is very fulfilling and satisfying. I want to look forward on that day I will have the courage to do the things God wants me to do. I know I am called to greatness because He said so.

I should stop thinking about all the negatives in me and in my life and begin to see how the Lord mold me and wanting me to be used in His Kingdom. It is a privilege to be called His daughter, His princess.

Unexpected events but they were already planned by my King, my Daddy in Heaven.

***I have so much more to share with you. I will stop here, will post more soon. Thank you for your time in reading my post. I really do appreciate it. ‘Til next time.