Doing What is Good?

Remind the people to be subject to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready to do whatever is good, to slander no one, to be peaceable and considerate, and always to be gentle toward everyone. At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another. But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life. This is a trustworthy saying. And I want you to stress these things, so that those who have trusted in God may be careful to devote themselves to doing what is good. These things are excellent and profitable for everyone. (Titus 3:1-8 NIV)

While I was reading that part, I couldn't help but to complain how difficult it is to do! 

One of the things that is truly hard to develop is a Christ-like character. Of course, we all know that we are all works in progress. However, we are called to keep doing what is good as a follower of Jesus. And it is not a suggestion, it is a comand to do good.

Sure, it is easy to be good and nice when those people around you are treating you the same way but to be good to people who are making fun of your faith and persecuting you? Hmmmm... I'm pretty sure you already have in your mind the what I'm going to say.

While I'm being tempted to justify my point behind it, this verse popped in my mind.

If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even 'sinners' love those who love them. Luke 6:32 

Awww! After being reminded of that verse, it feels like I don't want to finish this post anymore! And the quoted Scripture above is true, we are all "at one time" like them, actually until now, there are really times! I'm speaking only for myself, I don't know about you. 

But yes, Lord! I need more grace from you to continue doing what is good and to be salt & light everyday! Give me more patience, Lord. Give me. Thank YOU! :-)

JUNK: Feeling Better Christian Than Others

Most people say that I don't sound my age. In short, they think I'm mature. They say I can negotiate with different kinds of people, decide independently and there's an authority when I speak that you would really want to listen to what I say. And I believe them. :-)

I've been surrounded with Bible-believing Christians for two years now and their company is something that I am thankful for. I've been learning a lot from them and they've been learning a lot from me as well. I've been getting a lot of praises from others and thank yous because of my faith. And how they admire me because of my passion for Jesus. 

I am happy for the encouragements and inspirations they get from me. It is a privilege to be used by God to other people's lives, isn't it? However, the enemy should always play his role and get busy turn things around the way it shouldn't be.

I love human praises, I believe it's one of the most basic desires of every human alive. Before it sounds okay to be flattered as long as I don't get all the credit because it is the Holy Spirit who is obviously behind it. But as I started examining my heart, I know that there's a big chunk of superiority growing into it.

I feel like I'm more intellectual than other Christians when it comes to studying the Scripture. I feel like some are not wise enough to make decisions. I feel like I deserve more blessings than them because I'm exerting more efforts and the list goes on.

Those feelings suck! I suck actually. 

Such a junk I have in my heart!

I feel like I know everything even if I don't.. But I'm glad that God makes me realized these things! One sign that He loves me so much that He is more concern in my character than how others see me.

FEELING BETTER is one of the most annoying moves of Satan to hit us! He wants us to be like him.. self-righteous and to be idols of our own selves! But thanks be to God that He didn't let me swim to that dirty pool of I'am-better-Christian mindset through the Holy Spirit. :-)

A letter to Blogger :>

Hi Blogger,

It's been awhile. Forgive me for not writing for a long time. I'd like to say that I've been very very busy with life but I don't want to lie.

Life has been a never-ending test this year. I thought I was prepared for it but I was wrong. I keep on failing! Please don't get me wrong, I don't rely on my own strength, I know I cannot do things on my own. It just sucks to be a disappointment to your own self.

The truth is, I hate tests! In fact, I have never been really good at tests. If there is a board exam in my field of study, I am pretty sure I won't pass, thank goodness there's none! However, I know life is a series of tests especially if you have faith. And it's funny, especially when you keep preaching that to others and yet, you can't even pass one.

The tests overwhelm me and every time I fail, I can hear ugly voices telling me how loser and mess I am. It has been easy for me to understand that I go through seasons of life but it has been hard to respond in the right way. It's been a battle of the flesh and spirit. I've been very very unstable. 

I can feel that the world was eating me whole and alive. There were nights when I couldn't sleep thinking of the old version of me. Wanting to go back for a while thinking that maybe they are right, I am being too extreme. 

BUT His arms are too strong hugging me so tight, He won't let me go. Reminding me not go back in the old ways and that I am not finished yet. Calling me His princess with a royal blood, so, it is no good for me to eat stuff from the garbage or even just to stay in that place. Encouraging me that He will finish the good work He has started in me and making me assure that I am 100% loved and accepted because of what He did 2000 years ago. 

He has never fail to comfort me when there is no one around to do so. Not only that, His comfort is so powerful that He also uses me to comfort others. His love is so big that makes my faithless soul thirsts for it. I cannot imagine my existence without Him.

Though there are times when I feel exiled and just want to immediately go to the home He has promised, His Spirit is too strong reminding me to wait and finish the tasks He has assigned to me.

This is a little short compare to the many months I abandoned you but I promise that I will make it up to you very very soon. 

Thank you for the time and I miss you!

The loved & found,

C 

I Just Don't Understand

A few hours ago, I was asking God why some people are having a hard time to forgive despite of the knowledge that we are all forgiven through Jesus? I find this really hard to understand especially for men. 

I know two men who are hating each other for a very long time. They verbally punch each other and love proving that both of them are right. I actually know why they feel that way to each other. The thing is, they both have faith in Jesus and even understand the Gospel. 

I don't want to think that they don't really understand the cost of what Jesus did for us because who am I to say that, right? But I really don't get why it's hard for them to accept that none of them are perfect so why not forgive each other and break free from those bondages? 

Then, I've started reading the book by Deborah Tannen, You Just Don't Understand. Yes, I'm back to reading gender communication styles. Just finished chapter 1 actually and it makes me rememeber my college days. My professor in Communication Theory class was the one who introduced Deborah Tannen's studies to us. 

Just like from what I learned in college, she stresses to her book that most of the problem in relationships is communication. We have to understand the difference between men and women's communication styles. 

These are the parts that struck me the most : 

"I now see that my husband was simply engaging the world in a way that many men do: as an individual in a hierarchical social order in which he was either one up or one down. In this world, conversations are negotiations in which people try to achieve and maintain the upper hand if they can, and protect themselves from others' attempts to put them down and push them around. Life, then, is a contest, a struggle to preserve independence and avoid failure." 

"I, on the other hand, was approaching the world as many women do: as an individual in a network of connections. In this world, conversations are negotiations of closeness in which people try to seek and give confirmation and support, and to reach consensus. They try to protect themselves from others' attempts to push them away. Life, then, is a community, a struggle to preserve intimacy and avoid isolation. Though there are hierarchies in this world too, they are hierarchies more of friendship than of power and accomplishment."

And what she is saying is all true, right? I think I already learned about this when I was in college but I maybe I forgot. @____@

Perhaps I would never ever understand why those two men  keep verbally punching each other because my conversational style is different from them. However, if life is a contest for them and they keep avoiding failure for their statuses, then I must understand that they're carrying heavy baggage full of junk!

So, instead of feeling irritated every time they do sword fencing in front of me, I should ask God for grace for me to keep silent and remind me that people with heavy baggage are too tired and tend to react in a way that can hurt others.

And maybe men and women have different conversational styles but both are created by an awesome Creator. Though created and customized in different ways with different roles to play, both are equal and loved! 

So, for those men I'm writing here, maybe their stoned hearts are hard as nails to each other today but soon I'm in faith that God will turn those into flesh! And I know God has been touching their hearts right now. And I can't wait for that time to happen. :-)

JUNK: Distraction

The message of the preaching at the service I attended was very powerful. The preacher was stressing that we are all in a race and we need to fix our eyes on Jesus in order to get into that finish line. 

Message was amazing, however, just like what the preacher mentioned as one of the things that we need to take off along the race, EVERYTHING THAT HINDERS. That very moment the preacher was stressing that point, there was one hindrance that came along to distract me to fully understand God's message. 

I know it's been a really long time since I last posted about a guy in this blog. It maybe a year or two, I guess. And I actually haven't written about this here but I've been crushing someone in our congregation since the time I started attending. 

And that a lil long time crush of mine sat at the back of my seat during the service! Was really trying to focus my mind on the preaching and the Holy Spirit was even helping me by whispering that he doesn't look at me nor even care about the one sitting in front of him. 

I'm open with my close friends that I got a crush on him BEFORE. I've been convincing myself that he is just a former crush now after the retreat where we teamed up together. But that was actually a total denial! I still have crush on him and I couldn't count the moments where instead of thinking important things I choose to imagine scenarios with him in different situations. 

Until I read a post just a while ago written by a truly intellectual godly man in our congreagation, too. His post was about the messages he's been receiving from ladies telling him that they got a crush on him because of his posted articles. Well, his line of thinking is very admirable, so, you cannot blame those ladies. :-D

He wrote a big bang to all kinds of women today. I could actually feel the annoyance on his part while writing it but his point is truly something that we should not miss. 

I like how he's saying on that post that having a crush on him is pointless because he cannot save them nor even feed himself. He is saying that crushing on him or a celebrity or a public figure is a waste of time. You are wasting the time that is supposed to be for God. Only Jesus can save you not your crushes you always daydream. 

Wow! I really can't imagine tha a guy would respond to crush messages like that. Today, women are not the only attention seekers in this world and always want to loook good but even men. And those crush messages are perfect stuff to make him feel manly, cool and good looking BUT it doesn't flatter him. It actually insults him because his main goal is for his readers to understand the message he likes to convey. 

Though I can still feel the punch after reading it, I still believe that it is not an accident that I got to his blog. You see, that crush of mine is a big distraction to me! I'm not saying it's bad to have a crush, it's okay but my case is different! It's really bad. The physical admiration I've got for him hinders me to a much deeper relationship with God. 

Believe me, I just don't want to write the whole thing here because it's embarrassing. :-D 

That crush of mine doesn't even think of me and I'm pretty sure of that, he doesn't even smile at me when we see each other at church, he just look though we became group mates. I doubt if he remembers my name! So in reality, he doesn't deserve even just three seconds of my time. 

The point is, why waste my time to someone who doesn't even know me by name when there is the One who knows me by name and love me unconditionally and sacrificially? That no matter how hard I mess up and disobey, He is always there for me. The One who has saved me!!!! 

I'm sad while writing this not because I have to let go of that church crush of mine but because I feel like I've been setting aside Jesus without realizing it. And that I tolerated the simple attraction that hinders me from fixing my eyes to the author and perfector of faith. 

More sad because Christian and non-christian friends always come to me for prayers and encouragement. They feel like my faith is too high because they see me as someone who is very in love with Jesus and others even look up to me but they don't know that there's also this part of me. 

 Haayyy Lord. Help me fix my eyes on you! This is truly an eye opener. :-(

My Game Plan vs His Greater Plan

THREE MONTHS AGO:

My original game plan was to stay in my previous company and get another job since I had lots of time. Just really wanted to increase my savings & the tithe I'm giving monthly and to allot money for the building fund of our church.

LAST NIGHT:

As you all know, I lost my office job last week. :-)

But my good friend and I are believing God something greater this year. And it's really great that I don't want to write it here yet. :-D

He sent me a material about branding that I can use as a reference. And it helps me a lot.

I did the heart to heart activity last night, here it is:

Really had fun doing it but that was not the original activity I made. The original was in my sketchpad which is more creative, just photoshopped the above version so I can share it here but same content. :-D

Also, after that, I opened my Bible and really asked God to speak to me through His Word. I was in  the first few parts of Exodus. 

I was re-reading the part where Moses saw the burning bush. He was tending the flocks of his father-in-law when God caught his attention by appearing in flames of fire from within a bush. Surely, God caught Moses' attention because though the bush was on fire it did not burn up.

“I will go over and see this strange sight—why the bush does not burn up.”

Exodus 3:3

When we are too focus on our plans, sometimes God uses strange things in our sights like circumstances, inconvenient transitions, unexpected battles, etc to get our attentions. 

Just like Moses being contented on where he was that time tending the flocks, I was also loving the convenience of my work place and too focus on my original plan. However, God had even greater plans for Moses and that was to bring him into the mission and get his people (Israelite) out of Egypt. 

And that greater plans of God doesn't just work for Moses but even to you and me.

After that these following verses struck me: (God to Moses)

..“Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground.”

Exodus 3:5

..“I will be with you. And this will be the sign to you that it is I who have sent you.."

Exodus 3:12

The business opportunity I'm believing God this year is not just for the sake of making money out of it. The things I put on the call-outs in the heart to heart activity I did last night will cover them all. Yes, it's major goal is for the advancement of God's Kingdom. To reach out the lost ones.

I believe God will be with me in this journey and this extreme desire is coming from Him. 

I may not know the exact game plan but the important is, I know He holds it. :-)

When you don't understand why you're there right now..

Do you love listening to success stories?

Suppose there are two rich men in front of you ready to share their success stories. One is a man who grew up in a wealthy family and the other one is an ordinary man who used to be a bus conductor but now owns 250 bus terminals around the country. Which story would you like to hear? :-)

People love to hear rugs to riches stories, right? 

I thought of this last night while remembering a business owner friend of mine from the church. His business has been slow these days and based on our friend's story, sometimes he couldn't help but to question God. Like our friend said he's doing things that way it should be done, praying in a proper way, etc. But he still wonders why things go that way.

I cannot blame that friend of mine because I'm also guilty about it. Sometimes we're being faithless when things don't go the way we are expecting it to happen. 

As I was remembering that friend of mine and thinking about my present situation, God spoke to me through His Word. I was re-reading Genesis and last night, I was in Joseph's story.

One of the my favorite characters in the Bible is Joseph. Not only that he was able to overcome everything that happened to him but also because of him being trustful to God's plans and purposes. We all know what happened to Joseph and his responses after all the sufferings and struggles, very encouraging!

You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.

Genesis 50:20

Sometimes God puts us in a dark place to see the light. When there is too much light, can you see the beautiful stars? How about the perfect shape moon? See? It takes darkness for us to see the lightness of God.

Also, this makes me remember Jesus when He healed a blind man since birth in John 9. The disciples asked Him who sinned (he or his parents) to make him blind. But Jesus said, "Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him. As long as it is day, we must do the works of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work. While I am in the world, I am the light of the world."

Sometimes there is really nothing wrong with us! But things happen.. so that the works of God might be displayed in us. Yes, we may plan accurately, pray harder, serve the ministry 24/7 but those things will not make God move in a way that we are expecting! 

As His children, He is allowing us to go through the season of suffering not just to test our faith and character but He also wants our brothers and sisters to find rest and encouragement through our battles and struggles. God's plans for our lives are meant to be shared. He wants others to know His power and goodness through us and in us.

The thing is, we just really need to trust His works.. No matter what you're going through right now.. You may be praying and believing God for something and I assure you, He's moving now.. Maybe not the way we are expecting but just have faith, after all, He knows what He's doing, He is God, remember? :-)

Before they call I will answer; while they are still speaking I will hear.
Isaiah 65:24

The Parable of the Stone

The Parable of the Stone (not in the Bible)

by: Elisabeth Elliot

One day Jesus said to his disciples:  “I’d like you to carry a stone for me.”  He didn’t give any explanation.  So the disciples looked around for a stone to carry, and Peter, being the practical sort, sought out the smallest stone he could possibly find.  After all, Jesus didn’t give any regulations for weight and size!  So he put it in his pocket.  Jesus then said: “Follow me.”  He led them on a journey.  About noontime Jesus had everyone sit down.  He waved his hands and all the stone turned to bread.  He said, “Now it’s time for lunch.”  In a few seconds, Peter’s lunch was over.  When lunch was done Jesus told them to stand up.  He sad again, “I’d like you to carry a stone for me.”  This time Peter said, “Aha!  Now I get it!”  So he looked around and saw a small boulder.  He hoisted it on his back and it was painful, it made him stagger.  But he said, “I can’t wait for supper.”  Jesus then said: “Follow me.”  He led them on a journey, with Peter barely able to keep up.  Around supper time Jesus led them to the side of a river.  He said, “Now everyone throw your stones into the water.”  They did.  Then he said, “Follow me,” and began to walk.  Peter and the others looked at him dumbfounded.  

Jesus sighed and said, 

“Don’t you remember what I asked you to do?  Who were you carrying the stone for?”

-end-

 

House.Home

I was angry yesterday about "our house" that has been in the making for three years. I was angrily crying alone to God because I don't want to let the sun goes down on me and verbally punch someone. And besides, I know God knows my heart and He's always there to listen than anyone else in this world.

While crying, He asked me to open His Word and so I did.

And this was His Word for me,

“Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me.  My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going.” 

 John 14:1-4

And earlier, I was reading The Prodigal God by Timothy Keller and I was in the part where he explains in his book our longing for home. God has revealed to me something and that is..

I'm longing for home. 

I want a Christian family ever since I started following Jesus. That's not bad, that's actually great! But at the same time, I hate what I have at the moment including the house that we're staying in for seven years. I hate everything about my house that's why I'm believing God that we will move in the new house very soon. Again, that's also not bad, that actually makes my faith increase. 

HOWEVER, here's what God has made me realize, even if I get to live in that new house and get that Christian family, I'M STILL NOT HOME!!! There will still be "spiritual homesickness" and I will still long for home. 

"We are all exiles, always longing for home. We are always traveling, never arriving. The houses and families we actually inhabit are only inns along the way, but they aren't home. Home continues to evade us."

 "We may work hard to re-create the home that we have lost, but says the Bible, it only exists in the presence of the heavenly father from which we have fled."

"This world, as it now exists, is not the home we long for."

The Prodigal God, Timothy Keller

I was enlightened and I just can't thank God enough for that!

Real home can only be found in the hands of the Heavenly Father through His son and our Lord and Savior, Jesus. 

And I'm so looking forward to that! I was actually trying to imagine how that feast at the end of the history would be like but I really can't.. Can you imagine how it's like Jesus coming down here on earth to present us to the Father? And that awesome feast that will happen with all people in every nation? I doubt, I think no human brain can handle it. :-)

Haayyy Lord... I should just be thankful in everything You've been blessing me, YES, even the house that I live in! But I'm in faith, that very soon You'll take us out of this house and move us to something better in Your perfect time. It would not fully satisfy me but since I know Your promises are real, You will never fail me. :-)

No personality at all?!

I was in the washroom with my officemates after our shift.

I was fixing my stuff to put in my bag when one of my officemates saw my Bible. 

She scanned it and said, "You know in Catholic religion, you cannot do this in your Bible. It is very sacred to write something in here. Your Bible is too personal."

That officemate of mine is claiming she is an atheist (and of course I don't believe her) that's why I was surprised when she said that.

It was all started in the Bible then shifted to them giving comments to the new me.

One of them said I'm so different now they can even see halo above my head.

"Nawalan na ng personality si Cang, no?"

"Oo nga, panget yung masyadong good girl!"

I was just quiet listening to the things they said about me but deep inside I was asking myself if I should be flattered or what.

After they said that and left, the first thing I said in front of the mirror was 

"Wow! Thank You LORD"

After hearing that, I feel like I am really not a part if this world already and that I am so blessed that I am so over measuring up in the standard of this world.

They maybe right, I lose my personality already because I am new creature now!! :-)

This is one of the things I desire from the day I started to follow Jesus.. That people wont see Cang in me but that they would see Jesus instead. :-)

I am not perfect! I still sin! My heart is still full of junk but because my identity is IN CHRIST, I know my value and I am righteous and victorious through Jesus Christ, my Lord and Savior. :-)

Wisdom brightens a man's face and changes its hard appearance.

Ecclesiastes 8:1

Mid-year Prayer&Fasting2012 + God's Timing

Happy Mid-year of 2012!!

And this week, we had Mid-year Prayer & Fasting for three days! Yes, that was short compare last January. :-D

I participated for the second time this year for two reasons. 

FIRST, I was called to fast last February. I really knew I needed to do so. However, due to being disobedient and too much procrastination, I didn't do! :-D

And FINALLY, I need to hear God's voice crystal clear! I want to get thirsty for Him! I want to seek His face more!!! I want to live by the Spirit and get filled! I want to be fueled by His love. :-)

As I was fasting and having my quiet time in a coffee shop, I checked the Prayer&Fasting guide I used last January. At the second to the last page, I wrote there all my the things and breakthroughs I'm believing God for the rest of the year. 

We are in the middle of the year, right? And guess how faithful our Heavenly Father is?! Only one prayer haven't answered yet.. which means almost all my prayers got answered in the span of six months!!!!!!!

I really hate that I didn't get to notice it! One reason is due to the busyness of life and the problems and circumstances it brings everyday! But really, WOW! I really could not believe what my eyes had seen! 

One of the things I listed there was the salvation of my family, which was the most important. I remember the days and nights, I would lift up their names to the Lord for their salvation and that they would experience the same love I'm experiencing from God. There were times when I wanted to give up but God's Word and people were there to remind me that His promises are real.

And guess what?! It's true! God's promises are real and He hears us because my whole family has been attending church for one month straight! YES, even my father that I was scared to invite because I thought he's know-it-all when it comes to Christianity. FYI He actually wants to get connected now to grow deeper with His relationship with God. How awesome is that, isn't it? 

SO, if you're believing God for the salvation of your family and friends, just hold on and be patient because GOD answers.. in His right timing. :-)

-

God's timing is always perfect!

God could have answered my prayer last year or last last year when I started lifting my family up to Him, but why just last month?

I believe because He loves us so much that He doesn't want us to go back from the way we used to be. As human beings (even Christians), let's admit it, we are too impatient! Yes, as Christians, we say we live by faith. But that doesn't work all the time! We are too impatient and wants everything to work in the way we see it.  

There were times when I became too impatient though I know there's a purpose why God put me in this family. However, I didn't give up praying for them, they were even one of the reasons why I fasted in the start of the year. 

God could have answered my prayer about my family's salvation when I was being too impatient just to please me that time that He's a good father so I could praise and worship Him with all my heart. However, He has plans and He wants me to know that who He is in my eyes doesn't end there! That there is more and more greater things to discover about Him and experience from Him.

I received a bad news last month. My client for 1 1/2 year informed me that she doesn't need my service anymore due to the slowness of her business. I was speechless and didn't know how to react because I wasn't expecting that news.

I prayed and talked to God and said this,

"What is really happening? Why now when everything looks fine. I don't get nervous with handling my tasks anymore and my income is already calculated for the tithes, obligation to my family and pledge I'm gonna give to the new building for the church for the rest of the year? I thought I want to start a business for an extra income? Plus, I've reached out people in this work place and trying to reach out more. Why are You getting this from me? I know Your plans are good, pleasing and perfect and this job is not forever BUT WHY SO SOON?"

After praying and asking that, I felt a massive relief in my heart. I've got an answer in a very lightning speed. And that is, He's going to use me somewhere else. :-) 

Anyway, it's not my purpose to work there, it's His, remember? I'm actually getting excited on what He's in store for me. 

I believe God has answered my prayer for my family just last month because it was really the perfect time! 

And He, answering that prayer in this season of my life makes me rejoice in His goodness and power more and more! If He got to answer the most important prayer in my life, how much more the new work or career for me? :-)

You see, it's all about FAITH! 

And I also understand why God is intruding in my life at present.

Sometimes, we get to be super comfortable from where we are because it's too convenient to us. It's too convenient that we don't want to leave and just stay there without realizing that He has better plans for us! And the only way to get to that plan work is to leave that we don't wanna do because it's too comfy and SO, He's taking us OUT. He takes us out from our comfort zone to use us for His glory! :-)

IT'S REALLY ALL ABOUT HIM, NEVER US!! 

I'm still SiCK

"If you know you are sick you may go to a doctor; if you don't know you're sick you won't - you'll just die."
 

The Prodigal God, Timothy Keller

I'm reading a beautiful book at the moment by Timothy Keller. It is so beautiful that sometimes I just want to stop reading it. It brings up the rottenness of my heart. :-)

The line above struck me . . . 

I can be lost/sick or go back from being lost without knowing it!

I can be very very good in observing the laws but still lost.

Man, it is dangerous!

Going to church every Sunday doesn't mean you're not lost . . .

Serving the ministry 24/7 doesn't mean you're not lost . . .

Reaching out to lost people doesn't mean you're not lost . . .

Obeying everything the Lord has commanded doesn't mean you're not lost . . .

and the list goes on!!!

We can do all the things above not out of love but because of the BLESSINGS we are believing for. 

It makes us obsessed not with the BLESSER but with the BLESSINGS.

I am guilty about this. :-(

I am weak and I need JESUS to take out the garbage in my heart and purify it.

More to quote in the coming days . . . :-)

 

The Enemy's Pattern

As God's children and followers of Christ, we are being attacked by the enemy everyday. That ugly enemy is trying everything to get us! That's why whenever we defeat him through faith, we're giving him a major headache. And so, while God is using circumstances to be like Jesus, the enemy is taking advantage of those situations to make us feel down! 

However, as we are increasing our faith by nurturing our relationship with Jesus Christ, little by little we discover the enemy's pattern to tick us off. His strategies are very common!

He wants us to..

feel resentful

feel weak

feel ugly

be isolated

etc

He exposes our..

past

weaknesses

abilities that we lack

etc

The enemy doesn't want us to think that we're righteous & victorious through Christ. He even loves putting fear in out hearts and keep telling us that we cannot do things but we know that those are lies. 

SO WHY pay attention on what he is telling us WHEN WE KNOW THE TRUTH. 

We are perfect just the way we are, not because of the things that we can do but because of the perfect of our perfect Creator. 

QT: Jacob Gets Isaac's Blessing

Genesis 27:1-38  

Jacob Gets Isaac's Blessing

Insights: 

• The stealing of blessing was originally planned by Rebekah (Isaac's wife) and she just forced Jacob to do it. She even instructed Jacob what to do.
• The prophesy in Genesis 25:23 was fulfilled.

The Lord said to her,

"Two nations are in your womb,

and two peoples from within you will be separated;

one people will be stronger than the other,

and the older will serve the younger." (Genesis 25:23 NIV)

If the Bible says it, it will happen. So hold on to God's Word. :-)

• It was very unfair for Esau :( to the point that he got really really mad and wanted to kill his brother Jacob.

Sometimes when we are expecting something especially if it's a promise from other people, we hold on to it and we resent when we don't get it. It was really unfair for Esau's part because it was a blessing that can only be given once. 

Resentful starts when we're too hurt.. Too much anger makes us curse and even kill. So, guard your feelings, don't live by it. Remember, everything we do vibrates in eternity.

• Rebekah instructed Jacob to flee to Laban (her brother) to escape and hide from Esau.

Rebekah though ancient is still a modern figure of motherhood today. Some of the mothers today have favoritism when it comes to their kids. They do everything for their favorite ones even of doing it in a wrong way.

• Isaac once again blessed Jacob and even commanded him to marry a Canaanite woman. Esau learned about this and went to Ishmael and marry his daughter.

Not getting the blessings that we are expecting leads to rebellion. So, do not look at the blessing, always look at the Blesser.

• Jacob was a deceiver! He deceived Esau twice and so was Isaac his father. However, that didn't unqualify him to be used by God. In fact, he saw God in his dream and spoke to him. Aft that dream, he started his relationship witn God.

There above it stood the Lord, and he said: "I am the Lord, the God of your father Abraham and the God of Isaac. I will give you and your descendants the land on which you are lying. Your descendants will be like the dust of the earth, and you will spread out to the west and to the east, to the north and to the south. All peoples on earth will be blessed through you and your offspring. I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go, and I will bring you back to this land. I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you." (Genesis 28:13-15 NIV)

When we fall short to God, disobey or sin against Him, we sometimes hide our faces to Him instead of repenting. We feel that we don't deserve anything from Him anymore or He will never use us as an instrument of His greatness. But look at Jacob, God spoke to him in his dream and God sounded like He was blessing a righteousness man. The thing is, God can use you no matter what or who you are in the past as long as we repent and ask for His grace to turn away from sin. God has the power to bless you despite and inspite of you. 

Salamat PANGINOON

Pagkauwi ko sa bahay naabutan ko siya nagmemeryenda habang nanonood ng TV. Umupo ako sa sofa tapos kwinento ko sa kanya yung video na shinare saken ng kaopisina ko about sa interpretation ng prophesies sa Book of Revelations. Pinag-usapan namen ang mga pope, Rome, Christianity, Mark 16, Abraham at kung ano ano pa.

Hanggang sa shinare niya saken kung pano siya simulang magbasa ng Bibliya.

Bata palang daw siya mahilig na siya magbasa ng mga encyclopedia na naalikabukan lang sa shelf ng tita niya. Wala pa silang TV nun pero marame na daw siyang alam. Mahilig talaga siya magbasa hanggang sa magkaroon na siya ng pamilya. Nagtrabaho siya sa isang restaurant bilang bartender/waiter, tuwing break time niya daw nagbabasa siya ng Reader's Digest na binibigay lang din sa kanya sa table ng boss niya. Nakita nung boss niya na mahilig siya magbasa kaya iniiwan lage ung Bible nun, Baptist daw pala ung boss niya nun. Nung una, hindi niya pinapakelaman hanggang sa nalaman niya na talagang iniiwan ng boss niya para basahin niya. Nagsimula daw siya sa Genesis. Ang bilis niyang magbasa kaya madlai niyang nareach yung New Testament. Kaya lang napapansin niya na kaya siya mabilis kasi may ini-skip siya na hindi niya maintindihan, hanggang sa may nagsabe sa kanya,

"Alam mo kasi ang pagbabasa ng Bibliya ay hindi katulad ng ordinaryong libro na pampadagdag kaalaman, inuumpisahan kasi yan ng prayer."

Ginawa niya naman at bumalik siya sa Genesis at sobrang di niya inaasahan ung mga bagay na napag-alaman niya. Simula noon, nawala na yung desire niya na magbasa ng iba pang libro, Bibliya na lang talaga. 

....

Siya: Natutuwa ako na inaaral mo yung Salita ng Diyos dahil mas mabuti iyan kesa sa ibang mga intellectual na libro. At pag magbibigay ka ng kahit ano man dapat ung taos sa puso mo hindi yung pinipilit at kung tutulong ka sa buhay ng ibang tao, wag kang mag-eexpect ng kapalit. Dahil hindi yung taong iyon ang magbabalik sayo nun, ang Diyos yun, gagamit siya ng ibang tao para i-reward ka.

Ako: E bakit ayaw mo pa ren magsimba?

Siya: Gusto mo ba malaman? Kaya lang magkokontrapelo tayo.

Ako: Bakit? Ano ba yun?

Siya: Ibang congregation yung gusto ko. Yung evangelist na iyon sobrang swerte naten dahil nabuhay siya sa henerasyon naten. At gusto ko ang kanyang mga turo, napaka-Bible based hindi katulad ng ibang nagppreach na based on experiences nila.

Ako: O edi magstart ka na magsimba doon. Hindi tayo maggrow ng puru pananampalataya lang kelangan naten ng tao. Puru tanong lang kasi nakikita ko dun sa evangelist na yun, pano naman yung fellowship at application nun sa buhay?

Siya: Kaya nga inaaral ko yung Word sa pamamagitan ng pag-eexplain niya para alam ko kung pano ko i-aapply sa buhay.

Ako: Pero hindi lang Word and prinovide ni God sa aten. Nagprovide din Siya ng circumstances at tao. We cannot do it on our own.

Siya: Basta hindi pa kasi talaga ako handa.

Ako: Eh kelan pa? Ano pa ba hinihintay mo?

Siya: Gusto ko kasi mawala muna yung mga doubts ko e. 

Ako: May doubts ka kay God?

Siya: Hindi kay God sa sarili ko! Gusto ko kasi kapag bumalik ako sa kanya hindi ako born-again kung hindi magsstep-in ako sa new world. Iwan lahat sa old world. Kelangan ko muna ihanda yung sarili ko.

Ako: Papakaperfect ka? Pero hindi naman mangyayare yun, diba? Kaya nga dumating si Jesus eh. Kasi alam ni God hindi tayo perfect.

Siya: Hindi! Gusto ko kasi maging handa muna. Ayoko ng babalik ako tapos hindi naman sincere at ganun pa ren. Mas malaking kasalanan sa Diyos iyon.

Ako: Pero alam niya ngang hindi ka perpekto. Kaya nga may GRACE eh. You just need to decide. Nahihirapan ka lang siguro kasi madame ka ng alam. 

Siya: Kala mo ba madame akong alam? Marame pa akong hindi alam kaya nga hindi ako handa. God will make a way.

Ako: Pero naniniwala ka sa Holy Spirit?

Siya: Oo naman! Sobrang lake ng nagawa ng Holy Spirit sa buhay ko lalo na nung nagkasakit ako.

Ako: See? Sobrang blessed mo nga e. Nagkaroon ka ng second life tapos yung mga bagay at tao sa paligid mo. Grabe ginagawa ni God sa buhay mo.

Siya: Oo nga kaya sobrang nagpapasalamat ako ng Kristyano kayo dahil panalangin ko yun at habang bata pa kayo.

Ako: Edi kung sa tingin mo hindi ka pa super ready, magbasa ka na lang lage ng Bible kasi dun magsspeak sayo.

Siya: Kaya nga lage akong nanood sa TV ng Bible Study.

Ako: Pero magkaiba yun, parang gento yun e. Pagkaen naten ang Word.. Pag nakikinig lang tayo sa iba, parang iba yung ngumuya tapos kinaen mo lang ule. Mas iba pa ren pag ikaw yung susubo at ngunguya.

Siya: Basta natutuwa ako kung ano ka ngayon, just stay where you are.

-

Faith ALONE?

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith —and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—  not by works, so that no one can boast.

Ephesians 2:8-9

When I've accepted Jesus as my Lord and Savior and got to find out about salvation, my heart was rejoicing! I am saved by grace through Jesus Christ! All I need to do is to believe and have faith in Him, contrary to the popular religion nation that I still need to earn my salvation by my own strength. Despite of all the sin I've committed, I don't need measure up and perform to earn His love and grace, I just need to sincerely repent and accept Jesus. Only Jesus blood has the power to save and free us from bondage! How amazing is that?! That's why I've been sharing that truth, so other people may experience true life and freedom as well.

HOWEVER,

In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.

James 2:17

Confusing? Contradicting? Which is which?

Well, those two verses shook my brain up. And so, after my shift, I prayed really hard to the Lord and asked the Holy Spirit to guide me and give me wisdom as I read James Chapter 2. I prayed because like what I've said I am sharing the Gospel to people, so I need to fully understand this whole thing. Plus, I need to be prepared. 

Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage —with great patience and careful instruction.

2 Timothy 4:2

Going back, after reading it for like five times, it made me understand that the verse is about FAITH and OBEDIENCE. I understand why God made sure that James 2:17 would be included in the Bible because He knows that it's easy for people to accept the Lord sincerely and publicly declared it without obeying. And I can testify to that, I'm not gonna use other people's garbage, I'll use mine. I was like that when I was a super baby Christian. Saying to the world that I'm a Christian and yet still doing things that are not pleasing in the eyes of my Lord.

Now, I'm not saying that it's FAITH + GOOD WORKS = SALVATION. 

NO! 

When you receive Jesus Christ as you Lord and Savior, God gives you a Spirit that enables you to understand His grace and gives you wisdom. And that Spirit is from God that also raised Jesus from the dead.

What we have received is not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may understand what God has freely given us.

1 Corinthians 2:12

Meaning, the kindness, patience, hope and all the good things we're doing is a product of our genuine faith through the help of the Holy Spirit. He is the one coming from God suggesting us to make wise decisions and convicting us whenever we do things that are not pleasing in the eyes of God.

It's like this, Yes, we accepted Jesus one day and we now have faith in Him but it doesn't end there, we still need to OBEY! It's an everyday decision! We gotta communicate with God through prayer, get to know Him more and get equipped by reading His Word, worship Him by fully trusting Him and show that we love Him and understand His grace by obeying Him.

SO YEA, through the guidance of the Holy Spirit, I now understand that James 2:17 is all about faith and obedience to the Lord. Now, about the contradiction? Well, wait, did it ever say there that "faith without works cannot save you"? NO, right? But it says, it's dead! :)

remember,

ONLY JESUS BLOOD can wash away our sins and save us.

And no matter how hard we measure up, 

WE WILL NEVER EARN SALVATION.

Once we accept Him as our Lord and Savior, 

we are not just called to believe BUT ALSO TO OBEY.

So, BE SENSITIVE WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT that enables us to make wise decisions that are HONORING and PLEASING in the eyes of God. :)

Flash light...

‎”No trophy, no promotion, no pleasure, no possession will ever hold a candle to the thrill we feel when God uses us to touch another human life for eternity.”

Bill Hybels

This year, God has answered one of my important prayers and that is to use me to bring women back to Him. Last weekend, one of them publicly declared her faith as a follower of Jesus during the Victory Weekend. It was my very first time to facilitate a participant. I couldn't help but to thank Jesus every minute of that event for using me as an instrument in the advancement of His Kingdom.

I attended VW August last year, so sitting beside the one I brought there was refreshing to me. In the afternoon, the leaders and facilitators were asked for a quick meeting about how to do the ministry time. While I was listening to the pastor, God has revealed an open door from my past through the Holy Spirit that needed to be shut on that day. It was weird because I never thought about it! It was a scary revelation from the past! 

And so, after that I prayed really hard and had shut the door. However, I had command from Him that I needed to open it to someone and so I did it. 

Phew! That was heavy and it could pass through my generation. 

Thank You, Father!

Thank You, Jesus!

Thank You, Holy Spirit!

For flash-lighting the stuff hidden from my past that was being used by the enemy to tick me off sometimes. 

Thank You, God! Thank You! <3

Wall-E

I watched Wall-E with my 7 y/o nephew last night for the first time. Thanks to the free movie stream online! :) It was my nephew's second time to watch, so it was like I paid for a hyper storyteller last night. 

I love the movie big time! First, because Wall-E is cute and all the other robots! I'm not a fan of animated films but this one really got me because of some details that caught my attention. I'm not sure what the writer of this film was trying to convey but this movie can be interpreted in so many ways. I don't like writing my own version of summary here since there are tons on google if you look at. So, instead let me just write here the things that really captured my attention.

I find some parts of this film biblical. :) And here they are: 

1. A desire to be in a relationship.

Wall-E (Waste Allocation Load Lifter Earth-Class) is a lonely robot whose task is compacting all the garbage on earth while all the human have fled in a luxury spaceship in the outer space living with the robots. And yes, it tells the possible disturbing future of this planet. He has been alone (but there's one tiny cockroach following him always) and doing his duty on earth for almost 700 years! His life has been revolving with the massive human waste, compacting garbage all over and over, collecting some odd pieces of thrash and store it to his little home. Though he never grew tired with his task, you can see his loneliness. Until he meets EVE (Extra-Terrestrial Vegetation Evaluator) sent from the outer space to report signs of living on earth. 

This reminds me of Adam and Eve. From the beginning of God's creation to the seventh day, He saw everything He created was good except when He created man. God first created Adam and He even let Adam name all the creatures God has made.  HOWEVER,

The Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.”

Genesis 2:18

And God created a woman from Adam's rib he had taken out and brought it to him. 

Just like in the movie, a female robot from the outer space was sent to earth to accompany Wall-E. God knows that a man living alone is not good that's why relationship matters to God and He wants us to have a relationship here on earth. That's the reason why Wall-E became really really sad when Eve stopped working. Wall-E has done everything to make his robot friend work because he has found real companionship through Eve. You see, a desire to be in a relationship is God's given desire. Yes, He desires relationship for you and me. :) And the most important relationship that we should have while we are here on earth is an everlasting relationship with God through Jesus Christ.

2. A desire to come back home.

Human have fled in a luxury space ship living their lives in there for almost 700 years! It seriously scared me! Because it is possible to happen to human beings especially when it is obvious that we can't live today without technology! Man become obese and losing the bones of their bodies because they become too lazy. What they do all day is to sit around, sleep, eat, drink and just waiting to be served with all their needs by the fancy robots. This picture looks so terrible! We are being operated by machines instead of us operating them! OH NO! And the captain has found out about the plant from the earth which means they can go back already. The captain has no idea what it's like living on earth since he was born from that luxury space. The robot in the captain's office has shown him the earth and the awesome lifestyle of human beings on that planet. And so, the captain desired to go back home and start living the real life.

In here, I see the luxury spaceship(temporary home) as the EARTH and earth(home) as the HEAVEN. As a children of God, we are long for a home where we can be with our true family. Life here on earth is just a big dress rehearsal and the real show is in eternity with out Heavenly Father. As a follower of Christ, we know that there's more to life than here and now and so we look forward to something greater.

..He has planted eternity in the human heart..

Ecclesiastes 3:11

PS. Thank you Yngwie for helping me out with this! Such a smart little nephew I have here! :)

An afternoon discipline..

One afternoon I found myself being so annoyed and it's not because of the irritating heat of the sun but with some people around me. The enemy was doing a great job in digging the offensive encounters I had with those people. And my mind was filled with painful remarks I should have told them to hurt them and to at least feel better and to please myself.  I was even imagining using God's Word to strike those people. I thought it was like hitting two birds in one stone where I got to make them realize the truth and for me to feel pleased and great at the same time. I was rehearsing the scenarios over and over and got finally tired.

SO, I opened my Bible and started reading..

I was in Romans 15..

While I was reading, I couldn't help but to shout OUCH!

We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves. Each of us should please our neighbors for their good, to build them up. For even Christ did not please himself but, as it is written: “The insults of those who insult you have fallen on me.” For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope.

Romans 15:1-4 

Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God.

Romans 15:7

Real father disciplines.. Yes, it's painful because it brings out the rottenness of our hearts! It exposes our sinful desires but in the same way, it shows how loving and caring our Father is that He makes ways to remind us that we are new creatures through Jesus Christ, our Lord! He loves us!

My son, do not despise the Lord’s discipline, and do not resent his rebuke, because the Lord disciplines those he loves, as a father the son he delights in.

Proverbs 3:11-12