It was a looooooooooooooong day. Literally a long one for me, for I've been awake from Saturday morning till tonight, Sunday evening, with wee sleeping moments that would sum up into three hours. Whew! It was quite an experience and another valuable lesson that God taught me.

Saturday morning, I rose up quite early to continue editing the audio-visual presentation about our church's recent camp, which was held during the holy week. I sat and cramped myself in front of the pc to get it done. I finished the 1st and 2nd part of the presentation. But I had to leave it for a moment for our 3PM Youth Aflame gathering. I arrived at the church an hour earlier to practice with Josh, since I was the assigned worship leader for that day.

After the youth fellowship, I immediately started the newsletter. We still had to collect some of the articles... and when everything seemed to be perfectly right on their places, an important article was added... so I had to adjust not-so-all-over-again to lay out everything nice and neat in an 8-page newsletter.

On that same night, I am supposed to practice with the worship team for the Sunday worship the following day. But as I was doing the newsletter, I was already thinking if I could beg-off just for this time, because I had to go home early and get the videos done for tomorrow's service. Then came in the other worship team members discussing that one of us couldn't make it that night so somebody had to fill in her spot. Then I said to them, "Yikes...I'm planning to beg-off too actually..." But they told me, "No you can't... not this time."

Owkey... perfect. As I'm doing the newsletter, there was a raging battle inside me. My typical reaction in times like this is usually of a self-pity response and overwhelming sensation that usually manifests through...crying. Haha. But tonight, there was this question that unusually hanged over my head: "Don't you want to experience God's greatness first hand?--and that upon experiencing it, you'll have the authority to encourage people and proclaim with all your heart that GOD IS GREAT?"

What is funny, I actually texted this very same question to a friend of mine that needed encouragement just a day before. (Uy... Nix, sino kaya 'to? ;p) Now, God is asking it back to me. So, instead of getting all confused and welled-up by tears, my mind dwelled on that question and I sought my heart for its answer.

Before I finished the newsletter, we practiced for the Sunday worship. I resumed my work by 8:30PM, and thank God, I finished a little bit pass 9PM (which was quite early actually than my other layouting nights.)

I got home, ate dinner, snugged myself in the computer chair and glued my eyes on the glaring screen to pick up on what I left of the raw video file that morning.

Click, drag, play, pause, import, cut, paste... my fingers moved in reflex across the keyboard. By 1AM, I'm finally done with the three parts of the video.

Now the grueling part... rendering.

The first video lasted for about 6 minutes, so it rendered (or saved into a .avi movie file) for 2 1/2 hours. The second video was around 4 minutes; it rendered for 1 1/2 hours. The last video only lasted for 3 minutes, so it rendered around 1 hour. I started rendering by 1am. While waiting, I grabbed the chance to nap. And in betweeen those naps, I checked on the status bar... I started 1am. I finished the entire saving process and vcd burning process at exactly 7:00AM. I have 1 more precious hour to sleep straight... (I needed to get up by 8:00AM to prepare, so I can leave the house before 9:00AM)

I took a bath lightheadedly... but as I continued on with my ritual girl-stuff preparation, my sensorium gradiually leveled back to normal.

And the rest of that Sunday morning was terrific! With God's presence during the service... His message for us through our pastor, the worship and all... Hallelujah indeed!

After the service, our youth stayed for the preparation of our major event this evening: The Grad's Night--a sepcial celebration for the graduates of Batch 2008. So many things were needed to prepare (food, games, flash presentations, skits, table set-ups, prizes, tokens...) but by God's grace and wisdom, and the unity and sense of responsibility that He gave to us, we had a simple, yet wonderful and meaningful Grad's Night for the graduates and their parents. (Please see at Di's multiply site to view the pictures. zealousheart.multiply.com) *o, plugging pa yan 'te ha. May commission ako dito ha! hahaha!)

Haaaaay... looooong day, wasn't it? And now, with all confidence and authority, I can really proclaim that GOD IS GREAT!!! All battles can be overcome in His name! If we will just pause for a while and see things in His perspective, then we will understand better where we are and where God is leading us. A close-minded, near-sighted vision of our circumstance would really make us mad... I myself could have brooded a rebellious heart, and unknowingly flung my doors open wide for the enemy's attack. It was by His grace and His great love that I actually surpassed this circumstance. Now, I'm back on a hill top, gazing over the valley i have just passed through. What an amazing journey with the Lord by my side.

Tomorrow is a holiday... just in time for a good day of rest. Isn't He amazing? He makes everything work together for our good and for His glory. Amen!

Since the day I finished my studies, I am quite convinced for sometime that I am not missing studying. I do miss my school, the bonding moments, the fastfoods, the internet cafe, the parks, the fishballs, the pond, the kubo, the sec-c... I miss a lot of them. But studying itself--nah. Assignments, projects, quizzes, long quizzes, reviewers, prelims, finals, thesis, defense... I am so HAPPY I'M SO DONE WITH THEM ALL!!!!!

...but then again, there are pros and cons for being a student and a taxpayer.

PROS for being a student: classmates, school, bonding moments, food, vacant schedules, early dismissal, suspended classes, holidays (ha! lalo na sa uste...) vacation at the province, weekends... when I was a student there were still moments that I get to do my hobbies. I still find myself comfortably snugged at my favorite corner sketching, reading, or writing...

CONS for being a student: exams, assignments, projects, thesis, defense, deadlines, grades, tres, sinko, review, reviewers, prelims, finals, paranoia, brain-drain, allowance-dependence information overload... at the end of a tiring day, you go home and study more, or do an assignment or project..always thinking for the next day's submission of whatsoever.

Now, how about being a taxpayer?

PROS for being a taxpayer: earning your own money, being of help to the family, you go home with nothing to think about.

CONS for being a taxpayer: overtime, routine work, brain-drain, deadlines, no summer vacation at the province, immunity from typhoon signals, no more time for hobbies...Since I started working, I lost time for sketching, reading and writing... usually I get to read at least 1 book in a month, 2 to 3 sketches in a week, and hours of writing in a week. Looking back now, it seemed I haven't done it for... years.

Hm. Now that everybody's in vacation... I feel envious. I know it's not good, but I've got to admit it. I feel that way. And I must deal with it. And since it's not so right and it's not so helpful, and not so encouraging, I submit it to the Lord... may I be content where ever I am right now, and be joyful in whatever I am doing right now. It's hard, but, hey, who said battles are no-sweat? It's just a matter of having faith, clinging on, trusting God, and fighting a good fight. Guards up! Never let it down! Not a single moment! Not a single chance!

It's a tough battle... but I'm still fighting with my Lord!

* * *

Hm. I want to sketch, read, and write again... even just these three things that I used to do. I miss it so much.