Blessing 318 - Hugs

This goes without saying...

A hug is an amazing thing.
It's just the perfect way.
To show the love we're feeling
But can't find the words to say.

If you were hugged today, consider yourself blessed.

Blessing 317 - Lani's Sky

There so much mystery about the sky

About it's ever changing moods.

But most people don't realize

Maybe clouds have feelings, too.

When they're sad, they cry,

And it falls on us as rain.

When they're happy, they're white

And the tears stay away.

So next time you look outside

And the sky is no longer blue.

Don't get mad, just understand

Maybe clouds have feeling, too.

(By Kandi)

I came across this poem and began to understand why I love the sky so much. Not only for it's unchanging beauty, but also for the way it makes me feel. Too often my moods reflect the skies. Whether it's sadness or joy that I may be encountering, I am forced to look up... And hold my head up high.

Job 35:5

Look up at the heavens and see;

gaze at the clouds so high above you.

Job 37:16

Do you know how the clouds hang poised,

those wonders of him who is perfect in knowledge?

Blessing 316 - Can You Hear Me Now?

Ever had one of those days when you wish you could just say what's on your mind? Emails, texts, or even facebook may not be exactly the type of communication that your heart is yearning for.

Sometimes you're just left with no words to say...

And sometimes it's just better said with silence.

Our cell phones are great substitutes to actually hear a dear person's voice. But it does not satisfy the joy of being physically there. So you wait until you can actually talk face to face.

I'm just thankful that I have a FRIEND who is felt every moment of every day. I can pray to the Lord and know that He hears me and understands me. Only He truly satisfies.

Blessing 315 - My Princess... Go Where I Send You

You seek Me for your place in this world, and My answer to you is wherever you are standing. I love to hear you pray to be used by Me. Nothing pleases Me more than when your love flows warm and free.

When you're willing, I am ready to strategically place you somewhere to be a blessing. Even the smallest effort can lift the burden of someone else when you are living by My power. You won't always understand why I send you to do things that no one else will see, but you don't work for others - you work for Me.

What you do now will be seen by all on the other side of eternity. So go where I send you today, knowing that I have prepared the way.

Love,

Your King who is the WAY.

Be strong and steady,

always enthusiastic about the Lord's work,

for you know that nothing you do

for the Lord is ever useless.

1 Corinthians 15:58

Blessing 314 - A Reminder

(Niko's Finger)

"Remember your mercy, O LORD, and your steadfast love,

for they have been from of old." - Psalm 25:6

The bigger the trial gets, the more I know I need God.

The more I need God, the closer I am drawn to Him.

The closer I get to Him, the more I sense His holiness.

The more I sense His holiness, the more I realize my own sinfulness.

So often I need reminders to keep me organize within the dozens of things that I have to do on any given day. Too often I tend to forget the little things that make a difference. But how thankful I am that God never forgets to be merciful and loving. After reading this little devotion this morning, I realized the closer I get to knowing God, the more I realize the true essence of my sinfulness. If I know God's holiness, I will know how bad I need His mercy.

Blessing 313 - The Wonders of a Nap!

Oh, the wonders that a nap could do! I had the biggest headache all day and decided to remedy it with a nap. As soon as I rested, the headache disappeared and it was like night and day! I was such in a good mood and had energy once again! I was so energized that I took Monta out for a long walk. He was just waiting patiently for me downstairs. We both had big smiles on our faces!

A Happy Camper!

Sometimes all we need to remedy our tired souls may just be a well rested moment. When we are stressing over life, we really are not doing ourselves any good. We can't change our situation by worrying. But what we can do is entrust all our cares into God's hands. When He gives us the guidance and direction, then that's when we can act and step out in faith. So, if you really can't do anything but wait, take this moment and just rest in the arms of God.

1 Kings 8:56

"Praise be to the LORD, who has given rest to his people Israel just as he promised. Not one word has failed of all the good promises he gave through his servant Moses.

Blessing 312 - Comfy Shoes

My Red Polo Canvas Shoes

I had the two longest days ever doing a photo shoot in San Jose! But these shoes were such a blessing to me! They were so comfortable! A photographer's first purchase aside from his/her camera gears, should be great comfy shoes!

Blessing 311 - Niko's Flower Shot

NIko took this picture all my himself with my 40D! He initiated the shots. I guess he watches me when I'm engrossed in the moment with my camera. I love how he is taking a liking into photography.

Blessing 310 - Harlem Globe Trotters

The family had a great time watch the Harlem Globe Trotters last night in Santa Rosa Junior College! Niko and Jon had a blast! Ashley was the good big sister along for the ride... texting her friends during the game. Hehehe!
Meanwhile, I sat right on the floor seats, because they were empty. I decided to take pictures while they were practicing and just ended up staying there! I had the best seat ever and got some pretty awesome shots! I didn't know they were $77 seats. Oops, sorry!

Niko was so excited to get their autographs on this new basketball! He even asked one of the players if he could have his head band. He washed it today and wore it while it was still wet. Eww! But it was so worth the drive and distance to see his face light up during the game!

This smile is worth more than a year's supply

of M&Ms and Snicker Bars!

So, what made you smile today?

I hope it was a blessing from God!

Blessing 309 - My Mom's Pier

It's so amazing how I can edit an already beautiful picture that was taken halfway across the country! My mom took this pier picture last Saturday afternoon. I just gave it a little kick in color and texture, with a little snip snip here, and viola!!! I love how my mom captured the waves and just enough of the pier's angle to create a vision of envy!

I guess I shouldn't complain when God needs to edit my life to bring out the best in me. So I welcome the little kick of color and texture that He wants to add to what I think is already fine. Humility and Trust. I shall welcome the cropping and the pruning through the changes and trials in order to weed out what's hindering me from bearing more fruit.

John 15

Blessing 308 - 40D

I praise God for answering my prayers. I thank Him for giving me my heart's desire. I truly know that this new camera is from His loving hands. I waited for the right time when we had the money and the timing couldn't be more perfect. I am so undeserving. I only hope and pray that I will bring Him glory and honor through the beautiful images that He will allow me to take with it.

This was my first "food for thought" picture that I took with my 40D! I made dinner for my bible study leaders tonight. Fresh spring salad, baked corn bread, and good old fashion filipino spaghetti! Doesn't it seem like you can eat it right off the screen? I think I'm really going to have fun with my new toy!

Delight yourself in the Lord

and He will give you the desires of your heart.

Psalm 37:4

Blessing 307 - Small Things

THINK ABOUT IT:

As vast and remarkable as the skies are, so is the magnitude of wonder in the smallest things. I just noticed the small lavender flowers growing in my front yard. So small and simple, but yet, they speak volume to me. They smiled brightly just like the stars twinkle at night!

If God can clothe the smallest flowers with colors and coverings that can never be duplicated by human hands, how much more will He clothe and take care of you? THINK ABOUT IT.

"And why do you worry about clothes?

See how the lilies of the field grow.

They do not labor or spin."

Matthew 6:28

Blessing 306 - A Lesson in Being Hasty

I raced home this evening because I knew it was going to be a fantastic sunset! I grabbed my camera, made sure I had my memory card in it, and drove hastily to my favorite spot to catch the sunset. Just when I was about to take capture the sunset, my camera failed to work! Can you believe it? I forgot my battery pack! Again! I thought I had everything I needed. I forgot the power source into taking a great sunset picture. I drove home disappointed at myself. (It was just a block and a half away.) But seemed like 10 miles. =( When I got home, I grabbed the battery and took a picture of what was left of the sunset from my street. NO focal point, no OOO's or AHH's, nothing to write home about. This is what happens when one is hasty and unprepared.

I took this sunset shot about a month ago. This sunset was meant to be mine. =) I had everything I needed to do what I loved to do. I had plenty of time, a memory card, and the battery. I really learned something valuable from my hastiness. Although my heart and passion may be in the right place, my main source behind what I am suppose to accomplish must be present. I also need to be well prepared ahead of time to be able to truly do my best for the Lord. I think I really need to slow down. Not every sunset is meant to be mine. Not every mountain is meant to be climbed right now. Maybe tomorrow. But for now, I need to sit at His feet and be still. He is God.

Be still and know that He is God.

Ps. 46:10

Blessing 305 - Cyrus

Meet my new Godson... Cyrus Asercion!

It doesn't get any cuter than this!

More pictures to come...

Blessing 304 - Gerry's Grill

Great fellowship with great friends at Gerry's Grill!

Nice way to end a busy week. Sweet way to start off the weekend.

After a delicious dinner, we all decided to order a favorite:

Buko Pandan!

We also tried something new: Banana Turon filled with Halo-Halo ingredients. It was an interesting mix! I think I still prefer the old fashion way of just having Halo-Halo by itself with a sweet side of Turon!

Praise God for tonight! We had such a cool time catching up with one another. Anytime spent with those you love and with those who love to eat will always result in a BLESSING!

Blessing 303 - New Sneakers

I just needed a fresh new start. So I bought these new Gap sneakers for a great price! It's to symbolize my new journey into wherever God may take me. Be it in my personal walk with Him, in the awesome ministries God has blessed me with, or even in photography... I just needed a fresh start.

An empty canvas, an untouched path, a great beginning...

Funny how when you're in this poetic mode in photography or life, something or someone comes along and takes your focus away! I just found this moment so amusing! Oh, Monta, thanks for ruining my photo shoe shoot! LOL!

Blessing 302 - God Picked Me

These are all the shells and rocks that we collected from the shores of North Carolina. There must be close to 2oo or more of them! I attempted to weed out the ones that I didn't care for at the airport before boarding the plane. I was only able to throw away 10 shells. Even that was painful! Myra kiddingly said, "Oh, now it's so much lighter, Lan!" Hehe!

Amazingly, I still remember the reason why I picked them. Whether they had the shape of a heart, or one reminded me of a friend, or maybe I just admired how beautiful it was, I had a reason for every shell and rock that I took home with me.

I would like to think that it's exactly how God thinks of His own. Each one of us is uniquely made with purpose and beauty. We are like those shells and rocks being tossed to and fro by the waves of life. Some broken, some whole, some imperfect, and some very exquisite. God comes along on one of His morning walks on the beach and picks us up one by one ... to make us His own ... with a divine purpose.

I LOVE THAT!

How precious to me are your thoughts, O 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 139:17-18

Blessing 301 - Home Sweet Home

From the Atlantic to the Pacific, I'm am so thankful that I reached home safe and sound! I will never forget the beautiful beach memories in North Carolina. They will last me a lifetime! It's great to be back in the Bay Area again... Tomorrow's plan: Sleep all day!

Blessing 300 - Reflections

And I'll take with me the memories

To be the sunshine after the rain...

It's so hard to say good-bye to yesterday.

I praise God for the beautiful time I had here in the Outer Banks of North Carolina. Words cannot do justice to explain my blessed experiences. But pictures tell a thousand words. I have plenty of them to speak with. I shall miss the ocean waves as they sing me a lullaby to sleep and as they gently greet every morning. It's time to go back home to touch lives with what I have been blessed with here. God's love surrounds us. God's signature of hearts confirms that He is alive and is very real.

So I reflect on what I have seen and heard. Every experiences with Mom, Bill, My, and Lev will be forever etched in my heart.

1 John 4:7-8

Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.

Blessing 299 - Feeding Time!

(Photographed by Lev Usita)

It was so amazing to feed the birds while they were flying at the same speed as our ferry was sailing! My friend, Lev, took this picture as I threw a piece of bread at them! Amazing shot, isn't it? The bird actually caught the bread with his beak! I just had a wonderful experience and it made me appreciate God's creation even more! He gave the birds in the air intellect and survival instinct!

I have never experienced anything like this before! God never seems to stop amazing me!

Blessing 298 - Heart Rise

I have been blessed to wake up to the breath-taking sunrise every morning since Wednesday! But today's, God put a little extra kick to what was already perfect. I saw the reflection of the sunrise on my neighbor's window and for some awesome reason, it had the shape of a HEART! Please believe me that I did not use Photoshop or any other processing tool! Hehe! I really believe with all my HEART that God wanted to express His love in best way I would understand it!

May your HEART RISE above troubled waters and believe in your HEART that God is bigger than anything that might be drowning your joy. Just know He is above all things. He wants to bring you to the highest level of love!

When you go looking for love, you will always find it!
You will always find God's signature stamped on
the Windows of Love!
<3

Blessing 297 - A Divine Purpose

I waited for the sunset over the Outer Banks' Sound and this spectacular vision appeared! I kept thinking how that bare tree was ruining the sunset picture! I couldn't take any shots without it blocking the sun. So I just included the tree and accepted the fact that it's not going any where. Little did I know, that same tree made the image more beautiful and meaningful...

After processing this picture, it looked like the branches were holding up the sun! It almost looked like they were protecting the sun from falling down. It had a divine purpose, at least in my heart.

Sometimes there are things or people in our lives that "seem" to always be in the way. At times, we would want them to just leave us alone or simply give us a break. We think that our situations will be better off if those "things" weren't there. But God always has a divine purpose for our lives. There isn't anything that He is not aware of. Sometimes, those very things that irritate us are the very things that are upholding us.

Sometimes, the bigger picture ends up being more beautiful because of those things or persons. Trust God. He knows what's up!

In your ways, acknowledge Him and He will direct your paths.

Proverbs 3:6

Blessing 296 - My Mom

I just wanted to dedicated this blessing blog to my mom. It has been such a joy to be here in North Carolina with her. Spending time just walking on the beach, talking and laughing with Myra and I, and taking crazy and fun loving pictures of everything and anything! I praise God for my Mom! I'm grateful that she is also a great friend. =)

Although it has been absolutely wonderful, I do miss my family back home. Memories of them at the beach house last year keep replaying in my mind. I know there's a special reason why God brought me here. I praise God for every moment I am experiencing. He is so good to me!

"I THANK GOD FOR EVERY REMEMBRANCE OF YOU."

Phil. 1:3

Blessing 295 - Majestic Skies

In all of God's creation, I stand in absolute awe of His majestic skies! As I stand in comparison to this greatness, I am made thankful of my minute state in order for HIM to tower over me!

I STAND, I STAND, IN AWE OF HIM...

John 3:30

He must increase, but I must decrease.

Blessing 294 - A Frame of Beatuy

Chesapeake Bay

I could not wait to get off the plane and into a frame of beauty! This was my very first shot when we landed in Virginia! I can't even begin to tell you the joy I felt to be able to breathe fresh air again! I just praise God that I arrived safely here in the east coast. Driving through the woods and seeing this sight was such a joy! It was already dark when I arrived at the beach house so no visions of the beach were seen. But I know that God has something so awesome planned out for me tomorrow! The very first thing I'm going to do is make my Peet's coffee, grab my beach chair, and wait for the sunrise on the sand. Canon in one hand and coffee in the other...

Would you like to join me? I invite you... God and I will be saving you a seat right next to us! Isn't it great to know that where ever we may be, God is right there?

Psalm 139:9-10

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.

Blessing 293 - Fun Times in Davis!

GREAT THINGS ALWAYS HAPPEN WHEN I LOOK UP!

Crepeville

We had some awesome crepes, salads, and bagels! I had the bagels with cream cheese! I'm thankful that Elline, Jade, Ashley, and Michelle got to spend some time with me before for the leaving for the Carolinas!

Leiza met up with us, too! It's always a photo shoot when girls get together! Or maybe more often when I have a camera in my hand? I made them pose on this bench... and then I had a great idea to do this:

Cute, cute, cute, and cute!

Love, Joy, and Peace!!!

Thank you, Lord, for a perfect day!

Blessing 292 - HE IS RISEN!

From the Cross...

To the Grave...

From the Grave...

To the Sky...

LORD I LIFT YOUR NAME ON HIGH!

Blessing 291 - Keyhole

I just spent the last hour working on this "keyhole" picture. I found a new and very easy editing tool online. It allows me to apply any desired text and other creative flare to my pictures! The best part of it... it was absolutely free!!! But it's my SECRET... shhh!

I praise God for free things! But the most important free gift we can ever receive is the gift of eternal life through his Son, the Lord Jesus Christ!

John 3:16

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only son...

That whoever believes in Him will not perish,

but have the free gift of eternal life.

Blessing 290 - Caged

I visited these adorable yellow Lab puppies and I just wanted to take them all home with me! I was so tempted to open the cage! I really wanted to hug these little cuties. This little guy won my heart over. He was so chill. His face had "get me out of here and take me home" written all over it! Awwwww! =(

The only thing that was separating us was this fenced cage. I captured his paws as I was leaving to go home. The word that kept enveloping my mind was "freedom" as I sadly walked away.

Praise God, that through His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, the curtain (cage) that separated us from Him has been torn away! By His death on the cross, we are given the "freedom" from sin!

Luke 23:44-46

It was now about the sixth hour, and darkness came over the whole land until the ninth hour, for the sun stopped shining. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two. Jesus called out with a loud voice, "Father, into your hands I commit my spirit." When he had said this, he breathed his last."