Our Story

A friend of mine recommended this Facebook page of a photographer to me to "Like" on Facebook. I never did because I wasn't yet engaged and had no interest in photographers at the moment. Well today, I was browsing through my Facebook again and ran across it. Of course, I checked it out and they happened to have a Photoshoot Giveaway Contest going on... and the deadline is midnight, tonight! I thought to myself, "Yes! My opportunity!" God had given us so much favor over the past year, I figured it shouldn't end now, right? I had to submit a story of "how we met or how he proposed." It was a little hard for me to decide which to choose, since both events are very special to me. So I decided on the story that seemed to give more glory to God. When I submitted it, I figured I'd share it with the rest of the world also. :)

After browsing through both the companies' pages, MFL Photography and PND, I find that God has really blessed the businesses with great reviews and the owners with much talent. There's not much I can really say about them since I really don't know much, but all I can say is that I just got a "good" feeling inside while browsing through their pages...

Anyways, pray with me that we win!!! :)

OUR STORY

Yvonne and An both emerged from pasts marked with many trials and tribulations. Little did they know, there was a God who loved them more than they will ever comprehend, and He has been working diligently on every fine detail in their lives. Soon enough, Yvonne came to find Christ in 2008 and shortly after, An in 2009. They met as friends through a mutual friend from their home church they have grown to dearly love.

Though their walks were not always easy, they continued to pursue a true relationship with God in their singleness, learning to trust Him with every aspect of their lives, including their love life. They met in August of 2009 as friends, and within two months, An knew deep in his heart that Yvonne was brought into his life on purpose, by God’s will. SHE WAS THE ONE.

Of course, when he confessed this to Yvonne in October, her reaction was typical of a woman with a guarded heart due to lessons from the past and wisdom from God. Her immediate response was a rejection, and an offer to remain friends. He reluctantly, but respectfully, accepted her decision.

An not only continued to trust God and His promises, but he also continued to remain faithful to his own promises, and continued to quietly pursue Yvonne until God prepared them both to be ready for a relationship. He remained a true friend to Yvonne for seven months. In these seven months, God worked amazingly to transform both Yvonne and An in ways they never expected. Prayers were answered and miracles took place. Little did they continue to know, God’s plan for them was only just beginning to unfold…

On the third of March, confirmed in the timing, he asked for her hand in courtship, and she happily and confidently accepted. Six months later, on the twenty-eighth day of August, surer than ever that Yvonne was his future wife given to him by God, he asked for her hand in marriage.

Conversing with Our Creator

I just had a one-way conversation with my little cousin and aunt in Vietnam. He missed me so much, that despite the fact he knew we really couldn't have much of a conversation, he just wanted to hear my voice. I knew EXACTLY what they were saying, and I wanted SO BADLY to respond, but I just could not get the right words out. I would speak in phrases, choppy sentences, and with wrong accents that weren't even comprehendible, yet they still remained on the phone with me just to hear my voice and tell me stories just to hear me laugh. I got off the phone crying tears of joy, and at the same time, a deep resolve overcame me to learn the language so that I can have a TWO-way conversation with them, thus developing our relationship so I can grow CLOSER to them...

This brings to mind the very conversations I have with God, my very own Creator. Who else knows us more than the One who Created us BEFORE we were even set into our mothers' wombs? He knows us SO well, that when we spend time with Him in spirit and in truth, we don't even have to speak a word for Him to know our hearts inside and out. And yet, as we remain dwelling in His presence, He covers us with a joyful, everlasting love. Just like my cousin and my aunt, God doesn't care whether or not we know His language or can speak His language at the moment, He just wants to know that we're willing to pursue Him and put this time aside to show Him that we love Him and enjoy being with Him. And as long as our hearts are yearning, we will always walk away overjoyed by Him. And even as we part, our hearts develop a renewed and never-ending hunger for Him... a desire to develop in relationship and to grow closer to our Father in Heaven, with hopes that the next time we meet with our Father, it will be a TWO-way conversation as well...

Reassessment: How High Have We Risen?

March 26, 2010:
Being a Christian is not about spending your time deciding who's right or wrong, which church is better, or critiquing other Christians around you. Our Christian being should be defined by our own personal walk with God. Whichever denomination we choose or whatever rules we try to incorporate into our daily lives -- none if it will matter when we're at the Gates of Heaven, trying to decide if our relationship with God was all that He wanted it to be. The truth is, once we build the foundation of our relationship with Christ to be strong and sturdy, our Holy Spirit will take dominion, and He will serve as the conviction and affirmation of our actions. No need for arguments, no need for debate. Since we serve the same God, there is only one right answer. It will only be a waste of time when we try to place judgment on things, when we know very well that the only one worthy of judging is our Lord on High.

It's time to reassess who we are, what our purposes are, and why we're even here in this world. We need to take a step down from that pedestal created by the world for us, whether it be from our friends, our family, or church, or our workplace. We are not worthy or deserving of our blessings, yet God gave us His only son so that we can walk with him in righteousness during our temporary time here on Earth. We don't have time to waste on pointing out what we may think are faults of others. If we bring that to the table on our day of judgment, I would assume God would not be too pleased, knowing that we could have loved and shared the fruit of salvation, but instead chose to take His place, like the devil did. Lower ourselves humbly to where we belong, and allow Him to rightfully reign above us. This will bring our lives into alignment, and victory will be ours... and trust me, the rewards in this are far more exceeding than the temporal rewards received from simply deciding who's right and who's wrong.