THURSDAY TUNE #31: To Love You Back by Jamie Grace

I was having a conversation with one of my officemates a few hours ago when he said something that caught my attention. He said with a smile and a deep sigh: “You know what, Nicole? Recently, I feel that God has been pursuing me. It’s amazing because even though I’ve been struggling week after week, He still continues to pursue me.”

When my officemate shared this to me, it reminded me of how humbling it is to be pursued and desired by God. He made the heavens and the earth. He made every part of our bodies. He can even make miracles happen in a heartbeat if He wants to. And yet, this same God is our God who loves us; who knows exactly what is in our hearts; and who desires to have a personal relationship with us.

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“If I go up to the heavens, you are there;
if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.
If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea,
even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast.

For you created my inmost being;
you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
your works are wonderful, I know that full well.
My frame was not hidden from you
when I was made in the secret place,
when I was woven together in the depths of the earth.

 Your eyes saw my unformed body;
all the days ordained for me were written in your book
before one of them came to be.  How precious to me are your thoughts, God!
How vast is the sum of them! Were I to count them,
they would outnumber the grains of sand—
when I awake, I am still with you.

(Psalm 139:8-10, 14-18)

As I read through the Bible verses mentioned above, I find myself thanking the Lord for His relentless love for me. Yes, He has been pursuing you and me. But, have we been pursuing God? Have we been delighting in who He is and in His Word?

I’d like to share a song by Jamie Grace which has been very instrumental in encouraging me to draw near to God and pursue Him more than anything. I hope that this will bless your hearts as well as you seek the Lord this week.

 

Thursday Tune #30: One Life by Danny Gokey

So, it was just a hoax. Whew! Earlier today, I read tweets and posts online about the death of Cesar Millan, the “dog whisperer”. It didn’t really sink in until after I got home from work. However, after checking his official Facebook page and reading more updated articles online, I learned that it was just a false report. No wonder it didn’t make the headlines of newspapers worldwide. Usually, when celebrities pass away, everyone immediately gets informed — thanks to technology.

From http://wallpaper-actress-beauty.blogspot.com
From http://wallpaper-actress-beauty.blogspot.com

This event reminded me of a song that I heard recently while I was browsing through YouTube. It was written and sung by Danny Gokey (third place finalist on the eighth season of American Idol). I wasn’t able to watch that season, but I learned about Danny’s story online while watching his interviews. Four weeks before he auditioned for American Idol, he lost his wife due to complications of a routine surgery for congenital heart disease. It was a devastating experience for him, but by God’s grace, He used Danny’s darkest moments in life to bring out good and give hope to others who are also experiencing similar struggles. Praise God for you, Danny Gokey!

Danny Gokey (Photo c/o hollywoodreporter.com)
Danny Gokey (Photo c/o hollywoodreporter.com)

One of his songs called “One Life” talks about the reality of death and how important it is for us to maximize the life that God has blessed us with. In the song, he mentions tragic events that people experience all over the world – those that lead to death. However, he also comforts the listeners by encouraging them to be serious in extending love to others while we still can, while we’re still alive and breathing.

I’ve been listening to this song since Monday this week and it has been such an encouragement to me. I love it because its sound remind me of my favorite songs in the 90’s, but more importantly, the message of the song helps my heart re-focus on more important things in life – like, living for God, loving Him and others, and sharing the hope that I have in Him to the people around me.

“Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.” –James 4:14

“How was she to know as she ran and slammed the door
That the angry words she spoke were the last words she would breathe
How was she to see eternity between the red light and the green
It all ended suddenly

Cause tomorrow isn’t promised
All we have is one life, is one time
To live and love and make it right”

[One Life – Danny Gokey]

“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.” –Mark 12:30-31

 

P.S. Dear Cesar Millan, I’m glad you’re still alive. May God bless you and use you to be a blessing to more people. I pray that you will also know Him more each day. :)

 

Encourage yourself one treat at a time. :)

Thursday Tune #28: Start a Fire by Unspoken

While I was writing about burnt sweet orange potatoes last Sunday, I was reminded of the song “Start a Fire” by Unspoken. In the song, it talks about how a spark can grow into a blaze and have an intense impact on its surroundings.  In the same way, it shows how God can also use us (even if we sometimes have little faith) to make a difference in the world by sharing His love and grace to others!

A few weeks ago, I was invited to speak on Food Blogging for UP Kristiyanong Kabataan para sa Bayan’s Alternative Classroom Learning Experience (ACLE) in U.P. (University of the Philippines). I’ll be sharing more about it on the blog next Monday. It was a new experience for me, but one of the things that I really appreciate about it was the sincerity of the student leaders in the organization (UP KKB). I witnessed how they found their joy in God before, during, and after the event, and I saw them share their passions to their fellow students in U.P. too.

Photo c/o Lizette Tan
Photo c/o Lizette Tan

It was a breath of fresh air for me (literally too, since we were surrounded by beautiful sceneries and trees in the campus) and it was encouraging for me to see young men and women making a difference in school. I pray that God would bless them even more as they pursue God in their lives. I also pray that He would use the desire and fire in their hearts to share His love and grace to the people around them.

To my new found friends in UP KKB, keep it up! Continue to closely walk with God and be a blessing to others!

Thank you for the privilege of serving with you. :)

“Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity.” – 1 Timothy 4:12

Photo c/o Lizette Tan
Photo c/o Lizette Tan

“You only need a spark to start a whole blaze
It only takes a little faith
Let it start right here in this city
So these old walls will never be the same

Start a fire in my soul
Fan the flame and make it grow
So there’s no doubt or denying
Let it burn so brightly
That everyone around can see
That it’s You, that it’s You that we need
Start a fire in me”

[Unspoken – “Start a Fire”]

For the participants of “Off The Plate” last Thursday, as promised, I will be announcing the winner of our photo contest today. :)

I wrote the names of the participants who joined on separate papers and my younger brother helped me by randomly selecting one.

The winner of one dozen Krispy Kreme donuts is…

From Google Images
From Google Images

 

JIL LISTANO!!! :D

Woohoo! Thank you for sharing your photos online. We hope to see you and your blog soon too! Enjoy the donuts!

Thank you also to everyone who joined the contest. I enjoyed viewing your photos and reading your captions. :)

One of the photos Jil posted this week. :)
One of the photos Jil posted this week. :)

Encourage yourself one tune at a time. :)

Thursday Tune #27: In Me by Casting Crowns

Words cannot express how sleepy and tired I am right now. I haven’t been able to sleep well for the past nights because of my feverish body. Also, having headaches, sore throat, and mouth ulcers every now and then clearly show that my immune system (was and) still is very, very weak, as we speak. However, in spite of all these, God has been faithful in helping me find strength in Him through prayer and studying His Word. Thank You so much, Lord. 

Before I go to bed tonight (and I hope I DO go to bed early tonight. haha.), I’ll be sharing a tune that I’ve been listening to since last week. It talks about how God is able to use even our weaknesses to bring Him glory. It emphasizes the confidence that we have in Christ (not in ourselves) as we do the things that He has called us to do.

From Google Images
From Google Images

Today, God gave me a privilege and an amazing opportunity to talk about Him and Food Blogging to an awesome group of college students in UP (University of the Philippines) — I’ll share more about this soon. And I know that it was only by His grace that I was able to do so.

“And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us.” –1 John 5:14

Hope this tune will be an encouragement to you too.

Have a restful evening, everyone! :)

Encourage yourself one tune at a time.

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About Me

My name is Nicole Obligacion and I started this blog because I was inspired by Hebrews 10:24 and Hebrews 3:13. I love to eat, cook, bake, read the Bible, and encourage. :)

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