Author: Nicole Obligacion

Thursday Tune #35: Weightless by Hawk Nelson

“I say no more, no more wasting a moment, worrying about my life, my life. Carried in Your love. God, I know I got no burdens dragging me down. My soul is lifted because You’re holding me now.”

These lyrics caught my attention while I was driving home after a long day at work. I was intrigued by the song’s concept, melody, and beat. It was as if the songwriters knew what I was going through at that moment. So many things were on my mind. So many insecurities, hesitations, and fears were hindering me from moving forward. Somehow, it felt like I was climbing up a mountain while carrying a heavy backpack filled with huge rocks. 

As I listened to the song, I was reminded of truths about who God is. He is sovereign and faithful. He cares for you and me. He watches over us and He is our Father who loves us eternally. Going back to the truths found in His word helped me to slowly let go of my baggages.

I hope that as you listen to the song, you will also be encouraged to 1) humbly draw near to Him and 2) allow Him to work in your heart when you surrender your anxieties and burdens to Jesus.

 

Some verses that I hold on to whenever I am tempted to stay discouraged:

1 Peter 5:6-7

“Humble yourselves, then, under God’s mighty hand, so that he will lift you up in his own good time.  Leave all your worries with him, because he cares for you.”

Philippians 4:6-7

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

Isaiah 40:28-31 

“Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.”

Bible, Buskers, and BGC

My voice and hands were shaking while I was singing in the middle of a sidewalk at Uptown Parade, BGC (Bonifacio Global City) last Thursday. For the first time in my life, I played my original song, “Heto Na Naman Ako” in public and it was one of the most memorable moments I have had in my life. More than having the privilege of singing and playing the guitar, my heart was blessed with how God allowed me to experience Him in a personal way that day.

Every Thursday night since April this year, by God’s grace, I led a Bible study group with some of the ladies at work. For eight weeks, we met consistently until we had to postpone our sessions due to storms and other seminars. When the weather became better last week, I knew that God was reminding me of bringing it back again. However, because I was juggling different concerns in my life at that time, I felt that I was inadequate and de-motivated to lead the ladies for Bible study. I even told God, “Lord, You would understand if I postpone it again, right? I really can’t see myself leading the group now. I just want to go home after work.” But, despite my efforts to express my lack of enthusiasm before God, He still encouraged me to push through that night.

Right after office hours, one of my colleagues (Eiza) invited me to watch her busker boyfriend, Jello, sing and play at Uptown Parade. My eyes beamed when I heard her because I have always been fascinated by buskers! I rarely see buskers in Manila, but I remember watching them when I had the chance to visit Singapore and Hong Kong a few years ago. In a few seconds, I thought: “How timely! Maybe I could just postpone the Bible study tonight!” But, God immediately reminded me of my commitment to Him in sharing Jesus to my colleagues through this small group ministry. So, I told my colleague that I was meeting some of our officemates for a Bible study that night instead.

During our Bible study, my heart was humbled and blessed because I missed listening to the updates of my colleagues. I was also encouraged because God reminded us of the importance and blessing of seeking Him and obeying His word. In our group, we started a 6-week series on knowing our “True Identity in Christ”. So far, we have studied Bible verses that talk about the identities: FORGIVEN & COMFORTED.  Last week, we studied what it meant to be SECURE in Jesus. When the Bible study was finished, I remembered the invite that my colleague shared to me earlier that evening. Since it was just 9 pm and the busking session was until 11 pm, I decided to drop by Uptown Parade.

Originally, I wanted to stay for 30 minutes only since we still had work the next day. But, as soon as I got to the venue, I did not even realize how quickly time passed by. I sat with my colleague and met another friend (Deck), while we all listened to Jello, as he serenaded the sidewalk where strangers and friends were hanging out. He played original songs and a few covers in between. He also asked his friend, Deck, to join him in singing and playing the guitar! After an hour, they started challenging me to sing and play too. Of course, my initial reaction was: “Yikes! No way!” Haha! I did not have any experience of busking in the past nor did I have the confidence to perform in public that night.

 

Also, one reason why I didn’t want to sing or play in public was because I was conscious of what other people would think of me, especially when I make mistakes. I felt that my songs weren’t polished yet, my vocal skills weren’t the best at that time, and months without practice made my guitar skills rusty. When I expressed what I felt to my new busker friend, Jello, he told me: “Don’t worry about it. It’s okay if you make mistakes. Deck and I made mistakes tonight too! Also, if you don’t try busking and sharing your music now at the sidewalk, when will you try singing and sharing your music in public? When you’re already in front of a lot of people? You can do it now! It feels great to share the music from your heart. Go! Sing one of your original songs!”

 

While they were encouraging me, I recalled what I learned during our Bible study earlier that night. One of the passages that I shared with the group was a recent personal favorite: Jeremiah 17:7-8, which says, “But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him. They will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit.” In an instant, Jeremiah’s words gave me the inspiration to busk with my new friends that night, even if I didn’t have any experience. I was reminded that my flaws and the opinions of other people do not define who I am and that by God’s grace, I am able to find my confidence in the Lord. Even in this simple and random situation.

Just before Jello closed his last set that night, he gave the floor to me. I remember whispering “Lord, I’ve decided to sing the song that I made last year which was about finding comfort in you. May you be honored. Please help me.” I reached for the guitar and positioned my mouth near the microphone as I strummed and sang from my heart. It was an exhilarating yet amazing feeling for me to be able to spontaneously share my music to random passers-by along Uptown Parade. Yes, my voice did crack and I did miss a few chords, but at the end of the night, my heart was on fire! I was beyond grateful for the quick opportunity to enjoy sharing an original song and listening to original compositions of my new friends too. Jello and Deck, who are songwriters, also eagerly encouraged me to continue writing songs. They even invited me to join songwriting sessions or clubs in the country.

That day started with worries and concerns in my heart which crippled me at the start. But, thank God for His grace! He still gave me the privilege of humbling myself before Him, studying His word with colleagues, randomly busking for the first time in BGC, and being affirmed by new friends to develop my skills and desire in songwriting. If it’s God’s will, I do hope that I will be able to share His grace through more music too.

Here’s a compilation of some snippets from busking last week:

 

Everything Else Will Be Bokeh

Working behind-the-scenes has always been a comfort for me. For those of you who do not know me yet, my personality and introversion are some of the reasons why I do not seek to be in positions or situations that place me in the spotlight. If the need arises, I can speak, sing, rap, or perform on stage. But, there’s something relaxing, beautiful, and meaningful for me whenever I work in the background. Two nights ago, I had the privilege of serving the Lord behind-the-scenes through photography at our church. Words cannot express how humbled and grateful I am for it.

The last time I was part of a ministry was back in 2014, when I was an active member of the singles group in one of our satellite churches in Makati. After two years in the ministry, God led me to focus on discipleship, both in the main branch of our church and in the office where I work. By His grace, He has humbled my heart, allowed me to grow, and used me to share Jesus to my colleagues and friends.

However, a few weeks ago, as I was praying for God’s direction for me, my passions, and desires in life, He encouraged me to join a ministry at church again. God reminded me of my love for photography and how it fills my heart to capture fleeting moments and share Him and His greatness through these. By faith, I sent an inquiry to our church and after a few minutes, I received a reply! God immediately opened a door for me to serve. The next day, I was invited to be part of the group of photographers and videographers who regularly volunteer and serve at church! Then, a couple of days later, the team leaders announced a sign-up sheet for the volunteers for the upcoming prayer and fasting services.

Even though I did not know anyone from the group and I had hesitations because I was not as skilled as the other volunteers, by God’s grace, He still encouraged me to sign up! A part of me could not believe how quickly God answered my prayer. But, another part of me also knew that God was working in my heart and helping me trust Him in this. For the first time after four years, I served the Lord in a ministry inside the church two nights ago. I realized that the church will continue to function with or without me. But, serving God in a ministry is a privilege that I will miss if I choose not to take part in it.

An hour before our call time, I prayed in the main hall and calmed my heart before Him. I remember feeling excited, inadequate, and anxious at the same time. I also remember thinking about all of the other concerns I had in my life which made my mind feel clouded and confused. So, I paused and asked God to remove the fears and worries in my heart and prayed for Him to clear my mind. I also thanked Him for the privilege of serving Him through photography.

“Lord, please help me focus my eyes on You. I pray that everything else will be bokeh tonight.” After praying those words, I was surprised by the analogy that God showed me. BOKEH is a term used in photography which is defined as the parts of an image that are out-of-focus. This word came from the Japanese word, Boke, which means “blur”. This effect makes the photo look nice as it allows the viewer to focus only on a certain part.

It was such a humbling and beautiful moment. I felt the God of the universe take time to be an intentional Father to me as he re-affirmed me by relating photography to my desire in keeping my eyes on Jesus. He then led me to read Isaiah 26:3 which says, “You will keep the mind that is dependent on You in perfect peace, for it is trusting in You.” 

“Everything else will be bokeh tonight. It’s not about me or others. I will focus my eyes on Jesus.” I repeated this to myself a couple of times before I prepared for the night’s service. It was exactly what my clouded mind needed to be reminded of.

After seeing my photos last night, I knew that I had so much to improve on. I even felt the struggle of finding the right manual settings as I moved from one spot to another. Also, it was quite challenging for me to take photos while making sure that I wasn’t a distraction to those praying. But, I had a wonderful and humbling time as I realized how this was not about me at all! It was encouraging to witness broken hearts desperately surrendering and praying to God too! Moreover, the Lord was gracious to encourage me, through the rest of the team of volunteers and photographers, to continue serving and growing in this skill for Him.

So, I am keeping myself accountable to you, dear reader. By God’s grace, I will be more intentional in sharpening my photography skills, whether or not I’ll be serving in our church’s events. Will you pray for me, please? That I will continue to seek and serve the Lord with the skills and resources that He has given me — not for my glory, but for His glory alone! Because at the end of each day, I know that everything else will be bokeh.

Boyce Avenue Live in Manila 2018

Boyce Avenue’s concerts have always been inside jokes and cherished moments between me and God. You might be wondering, “What is the big deal with this lady and Boyce Avenue?” Well, they are my favorite band! I love three things about them: their acoustic music, exceptional vocal and instrumental skills, and culture as brothers. Also, by God’s grace, He has been allowing me to experience faith-stretching moments during their concerts in Manila since 2013.

I have been craving for their live music ever since their last concert here two years ago. So, when Wilbros Live announced that they were coming back this June 2018, I immediately bought my ticket. Ironically, I was not as happy as I would have expected myself to be after buying the ticket. It was because the production company that brought them back was different from the company that organized the concerts for Boyce Avenue in the past years. It was sad for me because family friends, who worked in that company, graciously helped me meet the band backstage after the concerts in 2013, 2015, and 2016. Now that Wilbros Live was bringing them to Manila, I absolutely did not have any chance of meeting the band. In their previous concerts, for some reason, they also did not sell Meet & Greet passes.

 

I was glad that I had the opportunity to watch their concert again. But at the same time, I felt sad that I wasn’t going to meet them in person. Despite this, I still thanked God as He encouraged me to still be content. I remember telling Him, “Lord, you allowed me to meet them when it seemed like an impossible situation. This happened three times before! You can allow it to happen again if You want to. So, who am I to demand from You or to not be grateful even when You take this away?”

Two months passed by and the concert day was fast approaching. By this time, my family and friends were already excited for me because they knew how much I loved Boyce Avenue and their music. After sharing my love for the band to one of my friends, I went home hoping that I could somehow still meet the band again. I told the Lord that He could easily allow it to happen if it was His will. But, if it was not His will, then I would still be thankful.

That same night, just three nights before the concert, I was scrolling through updates on Google about their concert. To my surprise, I stumbled upon the band’s announcement in their Twitter account about the Meet and Greet passes that they were selling since the start of May 2018. It was already May 29 at that time and I could not believe what I was reading! I was not able to closely monitor their updates before because I decided to log off from my Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram accounts earlier this year, as I have shared in a previous post HERE. Amusingly, I was both frustrated and extremely joyful that I saw the announcement that week! For the first time in the history of Boyce Avenue concerts that I have attended, I bought a Meet and Greet pass.

 

The night before the concert, Boyce Avenue’s management sent an email to those who purchased the Meet and Greet passes to inform us about instructions and its inclusions. Basically, the pass entitles us to have one photo with the band AND one personal item that we can ask them to sign. Even before the email was sent to us, I had already printed a collage of my previous photos with the band for them to sign. I just thought that it would be a cool idea to compile the Meet and Greet moments I have had with them in the past.

Fast forward to the night itself, we were all in line, waiting for the band to welcome us individually. As we patiently watched the time go by, the staff handed laminated IDs to us with the signatures of the band members. It was a pleasant surprise for us! Finally, they asked us to go inside the backstage area. There were about 25 people in front of me who went ahead with their Meet and Greet opportunities! As I was nearing the entrance door, I noticed that the people only had one photo with the band. They were not having their personal items signed by them! Literally, a minute before my turn, I quickly asked one of the staff members why the personal items were not being signed by Boyce Avenue. She responded by saying that it was because they already provided signed laminated IDs for us.

I felt my heart beat fast as I held on to my permanent marker and collage of photos printed on an A4 photo paper. I remember having a quick conversation with myself about “Seizing the opportunity vs. Shying away”. Each person literally had 8 seconds with the band and all I could think of was: “I know this seems impossible, Nicole, but you have nothing to lose if you try to ask the band. If it’s God’s will, He’ll allow it to happen.” When it was finally my turn, instead of giving them a hug during the first three seconds, I approached them by saying: “Hi! I know this isn’t allowed anymore, but is it okay if you still sign my photo?” Alejandro said: “Oh! You know what? We’ll just finish taking photos with everyone else and then we’ll get back to you.”

After this, the staff from the production company, including the bouncers, kept on re-directing me to go outside, farther from the backstage area. Every time they re-directed me, I tried to explain that my photo and ticket were still with the band – for their signature, but they kept leading me towards the exit. But, ten minutes later, all of the people got their photos taken with the band and they left the area one by one. I followed up with one of the bouncers and patiently waited at the exit gate. It did not take long until one bouncer walked towards me with an A4 photo paper in his hand and a brown envelope with my printed ticket on it. As soon as I got them, I saw the impossible happen right in front of my eyes. My collage was signed by the three Manzano brothers and I could not be more relieved. The band was so gracious and kind enough to grant my special request and I was so glad I took the risk of seizing the eight seconds that I had with the band.

Yes, this Meet and Greet experience was probably the most stressful I have had compared to the past three ones. But, God still allowed me to have a unique experience with Him and with the band this time. Meeting ones favorite band for the fourth time may seem like a trivial thing to some. But, it is certainly one of the languages that God uses to speak life into my heart, as He helps me exercise my faith in Him who is able to do anything. I was reminded of Philippians 4:6 where it says: “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.”

Thank You, Jesus, for always being so personal and intentional.

Thank you, Wilbros Live, for bringing Boyce back.

Thank you, Boyce Avenue, for being awesome as usual.

Special performances by Youtube stars: Moira dela Torre and AJ Rafael. :)

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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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