Things happen for a reason and Esther (Hadassah) became queen for one – to stop genocide from happening during the reign of King Xerxes in Persia. Who would’ve imagined that an orphan like her would become queen and save her entire race? She was a nobody in the beginning, who was given this immense opportunity. She allowed God to use her and what she had for His glory and with this she merited to have one of the only two books in the Bible named after a woman named after her.

She feels so true to me because though her exact situation is not happening in my life at this moment, her circumstances resonates the things that are happening to me and probably a lot of women. She was faced with something big. She was in company of men, whose authority she had to submit to and yet also had to challenge in a way for the good of many. She was given blessings and she had to use them the way God wanted to.

Esther also taught me on what the response should be when faced with a difficult mission to take on, which was to heed to counsel of a more spiritually mature individual, fast and pray. She also reminded me that whatever you have (in her case, it’s her beauty), God can use that to show everyone that He is God and remind us of His love and faithfulness. She also showed me that God won’t allow us to face an obstacle without giving us the means to overcome it, the same way that He gave her courage.

So, when faced with something hard to tackle, I look back to Esther’s story and direct myself particularly to this verse and I am reminded that I should never assume that what happens in my life is merely a matter of chance or coincidence because God is at work, divinely orchestrating events to bring about His purposes in my life.

If you would like to learn more about her or read her full story, go ahead and pick your Bible. If you don’t have one yet, OMF Literature is having a sale since it’s National Bible Week. Check out their deals ( iRead iBreathe iLive God’s Word) and get the Bible that best suites you.

I chose seven short books from the Old Testament. I’ve already finished reading three of them before, but since I used my “The Message” Bible, I read them now with a different perspective. Three of them are books about prophets whom I bet a lot of people don’t know. And the last book I’ve read is probably the most sensual book in the Bible.

These are the seven books I’ve read:

Day One: Ruth
Day Two: Ecclesiastes
Day Three: Esther
Day Four: Malachi
Day Five: Ezra
Day Six: Haggai
Day Seven: Song of Songs

My copy of Scott Lee Chua’s “Top 10 Pinoy Travels: Manila” is actually a special signed copy from Anvil Publishing that I got at the 2011 Manila International Book Fair.

This book is about a list of Scott’s favorite things to experience in Manila. While reading this book, I am reminded how much of a traveler I had become. I actually have been able to experience nine out of Scott’s 10. I’ll make sure that this year won’t end without me completing all 10.

I hope that you’ll be able to get hold a copy of it and experience the Top 10 Pinoy Travels in Manila too.

The first book I finished reading this year is a children’s book. Well, the original version of the book is for adults but a version has been created in a kid-friendly language.

The book is full of well-researched, reliable and eye-opening investigations of some of the biggest questions about Jesus that we may have.

I love the stories, analogies and illustrations that the book has. Kids can easily relate to them and they make sharing our faith easier.

Hopefully, I get to get hold of his two other “For Kids” books: “Case for a Creator” and “Case for Faith.”

…about the books that I read.

…about my travels to different places in the Philippines and some other countries in Asia.

…about my journey as a growing Christian.

May 2012 be a year of fulfilled promises “,

Generally, you’ve been a very good year. God has been so good and had given me most of my faith goals (including my long-awaited promotion), and for the faith goals that did not exactly happen, He had replaced with something better.

You were not void of hurt, pain and disappointment, but every hurt, pain and disappointment just reminded me that things happen for a reason and normally the reason is something part of God’s pleasing and perfect plan.

I’m grateful for the people who had been part of my life this year. I just pray that I was able to touch their lives the way they touched mine.

I went over my quota of travels this year, but I have no regrets. There’s so much to explore and there’s a lot of God’s creation that has to be seen and appreciated.

I may have been “single” but I sure didn’t feel alone. I’ve met people, went places and was given tons of opportunities. I just feel so loved and so blessed.

I’m saying goodbye to you, 2011, with so much gratitude, but I am excited for what God has in store for me on 2012.

Forever grateful,

Amrie

Because a picture paints a thousand words…

“I Love FS” Shirt Day (01.07.2011)

Nill-De Polonia Nuptial (01.08.2011)

Team Tam Post-Christmas Party (01.14.2011)

Team Garsh in Tagaytay (01.15.2011)

FS22 Graduation (01.20.2011)

VCF 2011 Teachers Summit (01.21-22.2011)

Lunch Out With My Victory Group (01.23.2011)

Pansit Habhab Day with Team Tam (01.29.2011)

FinServ February

Jhezza’s Victory Weekend (02.25.2011)

FinServ Townhall: FS Showtime!!! (03.04.2011)

Random March

Basil in Manila: a GND Get-together (03.19.2011)

Team Tam’s March Last Supper (03.26.2011)

MBTS 20 Graduation (03.30.2011)

Isabel and Eugene’s Birthday Celebration (04.02.2011)

FourPlay: Optus Manila’s 4th Anniversary Party (04.08.2011)

Training for Victory (February 2 – April 13, 2011)

DQ in Ilijan v 2.0 (04.15-16.2011)

Team Tam’s April Last Supper (04.29.2011)

Team Tam’s May Last Supper (05.27.2011)

Birthday Celebration in the Aftermath (06.02.2011)

Birthday Celebration at the Office (06.03.2011)

Ram’s 7th Birthday (06.12.2001)

APA’s Best (06.17.2011)

John and Jane’s Wedding (06.19.2011)

Team Tam’s June Last Supper (06.24.2011)

Cabalo Kids Day Out (07.15 2011)

HK Trip (07.22-25.2011)

Weekend with the Family (07.29.2011)

Cabalo Kids Weekend (08.05-06.2011)

Team Ma-Anne in Pansol (08.15.2011)

Team Tam’s August Last Supper (08.26.2011)

Philippine Science High School Alumni Homecoming (09.03.2011)

FMTS Got Talent (09.30.2011)

Team Ma-Anne

“Trese 4: Last Seen After Midnight” Book Launch (10.15.2011)

Lauren’s Victory Weekend (10.28-29.2011)

Moments in Corregidor (11.15-16.2011)

Cluster Raffy Team Building (11.18.2011)

Komikon 2011 (11.19.2011)

VCF Fort Leaders Appreciation Night (11.29.2011)

CTO Donut Day (11.30.2011)

VCF Fort December Worship Night (12.01.2011)

Summer in December (12.03-04.2011)

Ayala Triangle in the Christmas Season (12.07.2011)

Film Noir: 24/7 Optus Yearend Party (12.09.2011)

Team Tam December Last Supper (12.16.2011)

Spammer Girls at Ayala Triangle (12.17.2011)

Team Ma-Anne Christmas Dinner (12.18.2011)

FinServ SMEs Christmas Party (12.22.2011)

GND Christmas Get-together (12.23.2011)

Team Ma-Anne: Day Before Christmas (12.24.2011)

February
“Xtreme Calling” edited by Kelly Carr
“Fractured Fables”
“The Strain” by Guillermo del Toro & Chuck Hogan
“The Fall” by Guillermo del Toro & Chuck Hogan

March
“Cupidity” by Hayley & Michael DiMarco
“God Thinkgs You’re Wonderful” by Max Lucado
“Going Up” by Yay Padua-Olmedo

April
“Maximize Your Day” by John Maxwell
“The Twelfth Imam” by Joel L. Rosenberg

May
“Four Blind Mice” by James Patterson
“The Dangerous Days of Daniel X” by James Patterson
“First to Die” by James Patterson
“Second Chance” by James Patterson
“Fourth of July” by James Patterson

June
“Cradle and All” by James Patterson
“Witch and Wizard” by James Patterson & Gabrielle Charbonnet

July
“The Red Pyramid” by Rick Riordan
“The Angel Experiment” by James Patterson

August
“The Fifth Horseman” by James Patterson
“Seventh Heaven” by James Patterson

September
“Love & Heartbreak” edited by Elbert Or
“The 8th Confession” by James Patterson & Maxine Paetro
“The Gift” by James Patterson & Gabrielle Charbonnet

October
“9th Judgment” by James Patterson & Maxine Paetro
“Numb8rs” by Rachel Ward
“Trese 4: Last Seen After Midnight” by Budjette Tan & Kajo Baldisimo

November
“Skyworld: Prodigal” by Mervin Ignacio & Ian Sta. Mesa
“Segovia Solutions: Muckraker” by Jerald Uy
“Anak Bathala: Kalem” by Oliver Atienza, Bernard H. Morillo & Erwin Arroza

December
“The Filipino Heroes League: Sticks and Stones” by Paolo Fabregas
“Maktan 1521: Volumes 1-5″ by Tepai Pascual
“Mark 9 Verse 47: Volumes 1-7″ by Maika Ezama
“The Fire” by James Patterson and Jill Debowski