If Things Do Not Look Right......

Hey there guys, its good to be back after almost two months...

The truth is that I have been struggling for the past two months in so many things...physical, mental and spiritual. But here I am, still standing, still hopeful, and still obedient and faithful. Why? I realize that God is still holding me up, and He is not letting go. That is His promise to us.

Too many things have been bothering me for the past few months, where, normal people without that relationship to God will crumble. I believe that God is honing my principles, my faith and my attitude on a different level now. The Devil has been playing on my mind, where he says, I've made lots of mistakes, I made wrong decisions and God cannot do anything for me now. But I am still fighting. Even Jesus, was tempted and played by the devil for 40 days and 40 nights and I believe that in order for me to be Christ-like, I have to struggle with how the devil plays with me. I believe I will be victorious at the end. I believe that I will win. That is His promise. I will be the head and not the tail. What will I need to do? I only need to commit FULL TRUST in the Lord, and I need to wait for His time, because His time, not mine, is perfect.

Admittedly, things in the physical realm really do not look too good. Business has really been very slow, our new initiatives seem not to work, resources are really limited. Even relationships with people are affected, days are filled with sadness, dissapointments and frustrations. But are they God's work? NO. Business was given to me by God. I just followed His directions. Yes, resources are very limited, but He promised abundance. Sadness, disappoinments are frustrations were not included with His gifts. He only promised a stress free and happy life.

Also, admittedly, the Word is the only thing that is holding me off from insanity. I hold on to the promises of the Word where he said:

Call upon Me in the day of trouble, I will deliver you and you shall glorify me (Ps. 50:15);
And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have abundance for every good work. (2 Cor 9:8)

For He shall be like a tree planted near the riverbanks. (Psalm 1:1-6).

Things that I experience now are temporary. What is permanent is His Word and promises.

Considering all things, I still give to the church and to the needy, despite of the limited resources, I still attend to my work because He does not want me to be idle. Besides, those things were given to me by God, and I promise to attend and to be a faithful steward of those things. I am His manager. I still give my time of service to the church, and I am still feeding myself with the Word.

There are days where I feel I am at the dump, where I feel I failed in everything. I know that I have committed mistakes in the past and I have already regretted those mistakes. He is not condemning me for those mistakes, but He lets me learn from them. He made all things new, and I am new in Him. Earthly life is not easy, but He promised eternal life.

Before I also close this blog, I would also like to thank my wife for really being there when I need comfort. I know you do not deserve these sacrifices, but I really appreciate your encouragements, your lifting me up and for really staying there with me. Your words seem to brighten my day. Thanks for the inspiring messages and emails. Donn't worry, I'll make it up to you. I promise.

Finally, let me close with the lyrics of one of my favorite Hillsong songs, the Desert Song:

This is my prayer in the desert
And all that's within me feels dry
This is my prayer in my hunger and need
My God is the God who provides.

This is my prayer in the fire
In weakness or trial or pain
There is a pain proved to be worth more than gold
So refine me Lord through the pain

I will bring praise, I will bring praise
No weapon formed against me shall remain
I will rejoice, I will declare
God is my victory and He is here.

This is my prayer in my battle
When triumph is still on its way
I am a conqueror and co-heir in Christ
So firm on His promise I stand.

All of my life
In every season
You are still God
I have a reason to sing
I have a reason to worhip.

This is my prayer in the harvest
When favor and providence flow
I know I'm filled to be emptied again
The seed that I received I will sow.

The desert means dryness, the fire means trials, the battle means struggles and the harvest means overflowing abundance.

During dryness (desert), God provides for me. During trials, I know He is shaping me. During battles, I know He is there with me and during harvests, I have to be emptied again because I need to share, I need to sow. If I will not be emptied, I will not be filled again.

Inspite of all these troubles, God wants us to praise Him, to worship Him, because He is there, because He is faithful, and because He makes His promises true.

So I'll wait, until harvest comes. Until it comes, I will hold on to Him.

Thanks for being faithful Lord, truly you are one Great God! I am tired Lord, carry my load, carry my burdens. This I pray in the name of your Son, Jesus Christ... Amen.

10 Guidelines From God

A friend just sent me this, I though I might share it here. This is what God wants us to do. Remember, God wants us living a happy and fulfilled life.

1. QUIT WORRYING:
Life has dealt you a blow and all you do is sit
and worry. Have you forgotten that I am here
to take all your burdens and carry them for you?
Or do you just enjoy fretting over every little
thing that comes your way?


2. PUT IT ON THE LIST:
Something needs done or taken care of. Put it
on the list. No, not YOUR list. Put it on MY
to-do-list. Let ME be the one to take care
of the problem. I can't help you until you turn
it over to Me. And although My to-do-list
is long, I am after all... God. I can take care
of anything you put into My hands. In fact,
if the truth were ever really known, I take
care of a lot of things for you that you never
even realize.


3. TRUST ME:
Once you've given your burdens to Me,
quit trying to take them back. Trust in
Me. Have the faith that I will take care of
all your needs, your problems and your trials.
Problems with the kids? Put them on My list.
Problem with finances? Put it on My list.
Problems with your emotional roller coaster?
For My sake, put it on My list. I want to
help you. All you have to do is ask.


4. LEAVE IT ALONE:
Don't wake up one morning and say,
"Well, I'm feeling much stronger now, I think
I can handle it from here." Why do you think
you are feeling stronger now? It's simple.
You gave Me your burdens and I'm taking
care of them. I also renew your strength
and cover you in my peace. Don't you
know that if I give you these problems back,
you will be right ba ck where you started?
Leave them with Me and forget about
them. Just let Me do my job.


5. TALK TO ME:
I want you to forget a lot of things.
Forget what was making you crazy.
Forget the worry and the fretting because
you know I'm in control. But there's one
thing I pray you never forget. Please, don't
forget to talk to Me - OFTEN! I love YOU!
I want to hear your voice. I want you to
include Me in on the things going on in your life.
I want to hear you talk about your friends
and family. Prayer is simply you having
a conversation with Me. I want to be your
dearest friend.


6. HAVE FAITH:
I see a lot of things from up here that you
can't see from where you are. Have faith in
Me that I know what I'm doing. Trust Me;
you wouldn't want the view from My eyes.
I will continue to care for you, watch over you,
and meet your needs. You only have to trust Me.
Although I have a much bigger task than you,
it seems as if you have so much trouble just
doing your simple part. How hard can trust be?

7. SHARE:
You were taught to share when you were
only two years old. When did you forget?
That rule still applies. Share with those who are
less fortunate than you. Share your joy with
those who need encouragement. Share your
laughter with those who haven't heard any in
such a long time. Share your tears with those
who have forgotten how to cry. Share your faith
with those who have none.


8. BE PATIENT:
I managed to fix it so in just one lifetime
you could have so many diverse experiences.
You grow from a child to an adult, have children,
change jobs many times, learn many trades,
travel to so many places, meet thousands
of people, and experience so much. How can
you be so impatient then when it takes Me
a little longer than you expect to handle
something on My to-do-list? Trust in My
timing, for My timing is perfect. Just
because I created the entire universe in
only six days, everyone thinks I should
always rush, rush, rush.


9. BE KIND:
Be kind to others, for I lov e them just
as much as I love you. They may not dress
like you, or talk like you, or live the same way
you do, but I still love you all. Please try
to get along, for My sake. I created each
of you different in some way. It would be
too boring if you were all identical.
Please, know I love each of your differences.


10. LOVE YOURSELF:
As much as I love you, how can you not
love yourself? You were created by me for
one reason only -- to be loved, and to love
in return. I am a God of Love. Love Me.
Love your neighbors. But also love yourself.
It makes My heart ache when I see you
so angry with yourself when things go
wrong. You are very precious to me.
Don't ever forget......

Promises for Provision

This is a continuation of my previous post on confessions for provision. To continue, YES, we have confessed and we are waiting for provision. But what are God's promises for us in relation to provisions? God does not just give out provisions, we have to live in His terms, and His ways too, or else, would you imagine? It would be unfair to God. He will give provisions, but we will not do what is required of us. So in order to get the promised provisions, WE HAVE TO DO THINGS THAT ARE ACCORDING TO HIS WILL, NOT THINGS THAT ARE AGAINST OR THINGS THAT ARE NOT INLINE WITH HIS WILL.

Joshua 1:8

This Book of the Law shall not depart out from your mouth, but you shall mediate on it, day and night, that you may observe and do according to all that is written in it. For then you shall make your way prosperous and then you shall deal wisely and have good success.

- simply says, we have to follow His will always. If we follow His will, wisdom and discernment will be there, and whatever things that we do because of those wisdom and discernments will always be prosperous.

ISAIAH 30:18

And therefore the Lord earnestly waits [expecting, looking and longing] to be gracious to you; and therefore He lifts Himself up, that He may have mercy on you and show loving-kindness to you. For the Lord is a God of justice. Blessed [happy, fortunate, to be envied] are those who [earnestly] wait for Him, who expect and look and long for Him [for His victory, His favor, His love, His peace, His joy and His matchless, unbroken companionship].

- in order to get provisions, we have to be one with God. Imagine someone getting something from another person but he does not enjoy a relationship with the giver. That would be robbery in plain simple terms. But, isn't it that it is very easy for a parent to give small or big things to his children? To his wife? To his parents? It is because the giver has a relationship with them. Same as God. We have to have a relationship with Him first before He gives us these provisions.

Proverbs 12:2

A good man obtains favor from the Lord, but a man of wickedness He condemns.

- common sense. If you do good, you will be rewarded. If you do bad, you will be punished.

Deuteronomy 28:1-2

If you will listen diligently to the voice of the Lord your God, being watchfull to do all His commandments which I command you this day, the Lord your God will set you high above all the nations of the earth. And all these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you if you heed to voice of the Lord your God.
- common sense tells us to be obedient first before we can be blessed. Will you be giving your kids perks if he or she is not obedient to your wishes and desires? NO. As the same as God, we have to obey Him first, follow His commandments, follow His words, follow His instructions before we can partake of those blessings.

Psalm 1:3

And he shall be like a tree firmly planted and tended by the streams of water, ready to bring forth its fruit of its season, its leaft also shall not fade or wither, and everything he does shall prosper...

- my favorite verse actually. Very promising verse. But if you look at the preceeding verses which is Psalm 1:1-2, which says "Blessed is the man who WALKS NOT in the counsel of the wicked nor stands in the way of sinners nor sits in the seat of scoffers, but his delight is in the LAW OF THE LORD and on this law, he meditates it day and night.."

There are conditions, again that we have to follow. It just says, we have to follow His ways again, not keeping company on sinful men who can give you sinful advises or sinful thoughts which can result in sinful actions, but follow the desires of God every day of our lives. Then we will be blessed.

There are lots of promises for provision verses that I will be enumerating later. But the commonline is this: FOLLOW THE LORD, FOLLOW HIS WORDS, FOLLOW HIS WILL. Naturally, if you follow Him, your thoughts will be on Him, and wisdom will be on you. If wisdom is on you, then you know what is RIGHT or WRONG and your decisions will be influenced by this. Choose right, and the outcome of your decisions will be right. Choose wrong, and the outcome of your decisions will all be wrong. That simple.

To site a few more verses which follows this condition for prosperity,

Proverbs 8:17-21
I love those who love me, and those who seek and find me. Riches and honor are mine to give. So are wealth and lasting success. What I give is better than the finest gold, better than the purest silver. I do what is right and follow the path of justice. I give wealth to those who love me, filling their houses with treasures.

Proverbs 3:9-10 Honor the Lord with your riches, and with the first of all you grow. Then your store houses will be filled with many good things and your barrels will flow over with new wine.

- again, one of God's will is giving. It's not because God needs it, but it is a measure of your faith. Giving to God, not just riches, finances but time, talent and skill is also within this category.

Matthew 6:8
Do not be like them (pertaining to the Pharisees), for your Father knows what you need before you ask Him.

- let me reiterate this by saying that the Father knows what you need.... But it does not say the Father knows what you want... Needs and wants are two different things. You may need financial capability to give, to sow, to help people but you may not need millions of pesos or dollars so you can get rich.... Two different things.

Matthew 6:33
Seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness [or what He wants], then your other needs will be met as well.

- going back to what I was always saying here. Follow Him, obey Him, put your full trust in Him (which happens if you have faith, and if you have faith, you have to follow Him, and obey Him), and everything will be added to you.

Malachi 3:9-12
Will a man rob God? Yet you are robbing Me. But you say "How have we robbed you? You have not given Me the tenth part of what you receive and your gifts. You are cursed, for you are robbing me, the whole nation of you! Bring the tenth part into the storehouse, so that there may be food in My house. Test Me in this, says the Lord of All, "See if I will not then open the windows of heaven and pour out good things for you until there is no more need, I will speak sharp words to the destroyer for you, so that it may not destroy the fruits of the ground, and your vine in the field will be sure to give its grapes," says the Lord of All, "All the nations will say that much good has come to you, for you will be a happy land.

- one of the most intriguing verses in the Bible. What does this imply? As I've stated earlier, GIVING is one of the commandments of God. It is not because God wants something, but because this is a TEST OF FAITHFULLNESS on our part. Why? Imagine getting Php 10,000.00. If we follow this rule, we have to give Php 1,000.00 to the church. That leaves us with Php 9,000.00 more. In world terms, WE LOST Php 1,000.00. Imagine if this is Php 1,000,000.00. We lost Php 100,000.00. And Php 100,000.00 is a lot of money. Is this what we think? Yes, IF WE ARE GOING TO FOLLOW WORLD ECONOMICS. But WE ARE NOT FOLLOWING WORLD ECONOMICS. World economics is addition and subtraction. But GOD'S ECONOMICS is MULTIPLICATION AND EXPONENTS. Remember what happened during the sermon at the mount? Everything was multiplied from two fishes and three pieces of bread. Going back to the verse, WE CANNOT OUTGIVE GOD. For who can outgive someone who created everything? This verse only requires PURE OBEDIENCE, that's all. God promises overflowing provisions for those who follow this. And yes, THIS IS THE ONLY VERSE IN THE BIBLE WHICH GOD ALLOWS HIMSELF TO BE TESTED. Need I say more?

Galatians 3:13-14
Christ took away the curse the law has put on us. He changed places with us and put Himself under that curse. It is written in the Scriptures that "Anyone whose body is displayed on a tree is cursed. Christ did this so that God's blessing promised to Abraham might come through Jesus Christ to those who are not Jews. Jesus died so that by our believing, we could receive the spirit that God promised.
- this could be very hard to explain. But the word is clear....WHO ARE NOT JEWS... There was an impression before that only Israel and its people are only the ones who will be saved, and who are the only ones that have access to the blessings because of the descendancy of Abraham (who is an Israelite). But NO. The only thing needed by non-Israelites is to believe in Jesus, and what Jesus has done for us, by dying on the cross. If we believe and accept Jesus as our saviour, the lineancy of the promise done to Abraham before, IS NOW AVAILABLE TO ALL PEOPLE WHO BELIEVE IN CHRIST. On the promise to Abraham, that should be tackled on a separate blog. But as a summary. God blessed Abraham, he became rich, became a father at the age of a 100+. That blessing of richness, good health is not available to all who believes.

Proverbs 10:6
Blessings are upon the head of the [uncomprmisingly] righteous [the upright, in right standing with God] but the mount of the wicked conceals violence.

- again... Obey, obey and you will be blessed.

Provisions are there. Blessings are there. Good health is there. Everything is there. What we would only need to do is OBEY, HAVE FAITH AND BELIEVE. Why are other people anxious about tomorrow? Simple. They do not have faith. They do not obey and they do not believe. Align yourself with the Word. Align yourself with God's will. Everything else will fall into its place. I should know. I'VE EXPERIENCED IT.

Words and Confessions for Provision

These times, the only thing you watch on TV, read on the papers are news on economic crisis, loss of jobs, high prices of commodities, bailout plans, etc. Honestly, these news are really disappointing news and if you take them serious enough, fear, disappointment and anxiety gets in. What about fear, anxiety and dissapointment? They are not from God, but are from the Devil. But then again, the power of the Word is on us. We have the power to declare that it is going to be ok, that it is going to be alright. We have the power to negate the works of the devil. God, through His' Son, gave us the authority to drive out demons, to heal the sick, to drive out poverty, but it takes great FAITH for us to do it. If FAITH is inside us, then we SPEAK the words of FAITH. And by SPEAKING THE WORDS OF FAITH, our power and authority to activate the God's power lives. I will be writing a separate blog on speaking the words of faith, as well as on the living by these words of faith in the future (i am still not finished studying this).

In the meantime, let us confess these verses, and let it live within us so that we negate these news. Please take note that these are Words from the Bible, and these are LIVING WORDS. These words were not made up, but are written on the BOOK OF LIFE, which is constantly and consistenly true.

OUR CONFESSIONS

Ps. 84:11 Because I walk uprightly, God will withhold no good thing from me.

Ps. 34:10
Because I seek the Lord, I will not lack any good thing.

Ps. 23:1
The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not lack.

Ps. 35:27
God takes pleasure in my prosperity.

Ps. 112:1,3, Prov. 10:22
Because I fear the Lord and delight in His commandments, wealth and riches will be in my home. In my home, there will be much treasure.

Prov. 10:22
The blessing of God makes me rich and He adds no sorrow to it.

Prov. 8:20-21
God traverses my way that He may cause me to inherit wealth and full my treasury.

Prov. 13:21, 2 Cor. 9:10-13
God will reward me with prosperity. He will provide more seed for me to sow because I am a sower.

Heb. 6:14
Surely blessing God will bless me and multiplying, He will multiply me.

2 Cor 9:6
Because I have sown bountifully, I will reap bountifully.

Deut 28:2-3,6
Because I obey God, all of His blessings shall come upon me and overtake me. I will be blessed in the city and blessed in the country, blessed when I come in and blessed when I go out.

2 Cor. 9:8
God causes all grace to abound toward me, that I always have all sufficiency in all things, may have abundance for every good work.

Deut 28:12
The Lord will command a blessing on me in my storehouse and in all to which I set my hand.
Deut 28:12
I will lend and not borrow.
Deut 28:13
I am the head and not the tail, above only and not beneath.
Gen 22:14
God is my Jehovah Jireh, the Lord my Provider.
Phil 4:19
He will supply all my needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.
Lk 6:38
Because I give, it will be given to me: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into my bosom by men.
Mal 3:10
Because I tithe faithfully, God will open for me the windows of heaven and pour out for me such blessing that there will not be room enough to receive it, and rebuke the devourer from my finances.

Prov 3:9-10
I honor the Lord with my possessions, and with the first fruits of my increase, so my barms will be filled with plenty, and my vats will overflow with new wine.

Gal 3:13-14, Gen 8:18, Gen 12:1-3, 2 Cor. 8:9, Prov. 11:24-25
We have been redeemed from the curse of poverty, God will give me the power to get wealth and bless me financially so that we can be a blessing to others.
Prov. 13:22, Ps. 112:1-3
I will leave an inheritance for my children because God will prosper me.

Let these WORDS remain alive in your heart, and see the results.

Jesus Light of the World

Living in darkness? Get back to the Light...

Cute

A girl reciting Psalms 23.... Cute... Hehehehhee.

Moving Forward

For my new year's message, i will just be borrowing the words from one of our praise and worship songs....

I'm not going back I'm moving ahead I'm here to declare In You old things are made new Surrender my life to Christ I'm moving moving forward What a moment You have brought me to Such a freedom I have found in You What a Healer You make all things new Yeah Yeah Yeah You have risen With all power in Your Hands You have given me A second Chance Hallelujah Hallelujah Yeah Yeah Yeah Yeah Yeah Yeah You make all things new You make all things new I will follow You forward

Look ahead, forget the things that were done last year. Don't let those past things burden you on your journey ahead. Learn from them, but don't let them drag you. Romans 8 says, "Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus, the law of the Spirit of Life set me free from the law of sin and death." 2 Corinthians 5:17 says "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation, the old has gone, the new has come..."

What does this mean? It just means, this year, try to focus more on Christ. He will not condemn you or punish you for the bad things that you have done during the past year, which led to bad decisions and bad actions but instead, focus your walk with Him, and everything else will be in place. Confess your sins, and avoid temptations/sinning. Instead of worrying in the future, have faith in Him, for He will take care of the future, and everything that you do, make sure, this is done to please Him.

I will close with these verses:

Philippians 4:16

Do not be anxious about anything, but everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving. Let your requests be made known to God.

Proverbs 3:24

When you lie down, you will not be afraid, when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet.


Happy New Year!!! May this year be a blessed, fruitful and overflowing year to all of you...

Not By Works, But By Faith

"For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God. Not by works, lest any man should boast."

I was reflecting on Ephesians 2:8-9 for three days now and was quite bothered by it. Why?

Roman Catholics (which i was) often mention that the Bible never says we are saved by faith alone and that the phrase "faith alone" occurs only once in James where it says that we are not saved by faith alone. If this is so, then why do the some Christians say we are justified by faith alone and not by works? Because the Bible teaches that we are justified by faith alone, and not by works.

But this is my personal opinion on this matter....

We have to admit that this verse is related to several things. First, yes, we are saved through grace, not by works. But, would you think we are saved just for the thought of us being saved by grace because we accepted Jesus? Its easy to accept Jesus, but it's hard to live by what He wants us to live. We can easily say, I am saved, because I have accepted Jesus, but in reality, we are still a picture of our old selves. We are still proud, stubborn and our happiness is measured by material desires and wants. Is this what Jesus wants from us? The answer is a resounding NO. Jesus wants us to live like He lived here on earth, "Christ-like" as i may borrow the term used by the Bible on the Epistles. What is the "Christ-like" way of life? Let me enumerate them for you:

a) Doing Things for the Glory of God

Jesus did everything for the glory of the Father. He raised Lazarus from the dead so that people may glorify Him, He turned water into wine for the Glory of His' Father, and He gave up His life so that by resurrecting, God's glory is magnified. He did not do it so that He will be the "superstar" or in Filipino terms, "hindi nya yun ginawa para sya ang sikat..."

b) Humility

He was the King of Kings, but why did He come down here and was born in a stable? Why did He wash the feet of His apostles during the last supper? Simple, He wants to focus on humility, which is also related to item a, above.

c) He preached the Word, and lived by the Word.

He was the Word, and He preached the Word, and used the Word in His daily activities. Why was He doing that? Simple. If we lived on the Word, we are guided, protected and shielded from the works of the devil because God's word is more powerful than the works of the devil. Even though He was God, He was still man, and He knows that He has to use the Word to shield Himself from the devil, which is more powerful here on earth.

d) He applied wisdom in all of His undertakings. Even the schedule of His trips that He takes during his ministry, He applied wisdom to it.

So how does this relate to the topic?

Knowing the Word, and having faith, is not enough. WE HAVE TO LIVE WITH IT. Memory of biblical verses is easy, but its really hard to imitate his lifestyle. We are too focused on our material wants and desires, we feel powerful if things go well, etc. If we are with God, following Him comes naturally. Imitating His works comes naturally. Yes, we struggle at times, but we have to really thrive hard on this "Christ-like" actions, behaviors and thinking. This is His wants from us. He said in a scripture that in order for people to follow Him, "one must sell his belongings, take up His cross and follow" him. Its not easy, but it can be done, with His graces.

How do we do it? Let me enumerate the things that I've done.

a. I learned to control my temper and my tongue. Ask my wife. I was not like this before. But when I accepted Him, He took over my temper and He took control of my tongue. Before, saying #$&*@#$ was like a period for me. I usually end my sentences with these words. But now, you will have to pay me something so i can say these words (that rare, i tell you...). On the temper side, i learned on how to look at things at another prospective before I react. After I see the different side of things, i am surprised that my bad temper is now gone.... Now it comes naturally. Although, again, admittedly, i sometimes fall in this, but i am still working on it.

b. I learned to be humble. Before, my mindset was, I am good. I am intelligent. I am great. No one can do things like I've done it. WRONG. I learned the meaning of failure, and i struggled. I got pressured, i got emotionally stressed because I have to live with these wordly standards. Now, i've learned that if i have solved a complex problem, it is God who gave me the wisdom to think about that solution. What did it bought me into? I rarely get stressed, my migraines are now gone, and I am contented with the way things happen.

c. I learned to give. Not just money, but time. I learned to share my talents, in which, before, i was witholding, because.....yes, i usually thought i was important, my time was important, my talent and my analytical skills were all important and would cost you. hehehehehe.

d. I learned to be patient. I know God works through time. Sometimes, my timing is not God's timing. God does not measure things by time, but by purpose. Now, i fully understand this.

e. I learned to do the best things. It is because, I am doing things now for the Glory of God, nothing else.



If i do the best things, results will come in later.

What does this conclude? I am not trying to contradict what is written, but for me, FAITH AND WORKS should be it. It is because, faith, without works does not live in Christian teachings, but works comes together with faith, if you live in this principle. DON'T LIVE LIKE THE HYPROCRITES. Get the teachings, and live with the teachings. DON'T JUST MEMORIZE THE TEACHINGS, and live like the opposite. Live by your principles. I am sure that if you know God, your principles, will then be put straight on course. Don't look back, and do not worry what lies ahead. This is God's promise to all of us all. He has given you wisdom to decide and choose right from wrong. He has promised to take care of us in our journeys. He has promised to provide us with the tools that we need for the journey.

Let me close this entry by quoting James 2:14-19; 24; 26 which says "What good (profit - Amplified) is it my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him? Supposed a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to him, "Go, I wish you well keep warm and well-fed," but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead (meaning "walang saysay", "deeds and actiosn of obedience to back it up - Amplified). Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do. You believe that there is one God. Good! EVEN THE DEMONS BELIEVE THAT - and shudder. You see that a person is justified by what he does and not by faith alone. As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds (obedience) is dead.

The Essense of Christmas

Christmas is spoken of as a "season of joy" and "a time of cheer". But as Christmas comes around, do you sometimes experience things far from joy and cheer? Do you find yourself bogged down and your days filled with busyness? Are you weary after a long year end and numerous problems and difficulties that came to your way? Does Christmas seem like one more pressure, one more demand on your time?

All kinds of questions and concerns run through your head as you weave together the Christmas season's events. Will your loved ones appreciate all that you put into making Christmas special for them? Will you be able to fulfill their expectations? Will your plans come to pass as you hope? Will this be a merry Christmas?

STOP FOR A MINUTE. You may not think you have time to stop, but you should anyway. I want to help you experience calm and peace this Yuletide season. Instead of hoping to survive the Christmas season, I'd like you to actually enjoy it. It will mean an exchange though. You will have to give up something in your busy likfe so that you can make space for something better.

You may look at each Christmas as needing to be bigger and better than the past, and you anxiously fill up every moment making preparations toward that goal. But sometimes, LESS IS MORE. Have you stopped to think about whether all the running around is necessary? Is it really making your Christmas season and that of your loved ones happier? Or are you cutting out the truly important things in life in order to select the perfect gifts, arrange the decorations impeccably, and gather the most sumptous ingredients for a dinner celebration?

The less frenzied you are about creating the "perfect" Christmas, the more time you'll find to enjoy it. The less stressed and pressured you are, the more happiness and joy will fill the time you and your loved ones spend together.

Christmas is best enjoyed when it is not centered on decorations, gifts and festivities, but when LOVE is at its core. LOVE is the essense of Christmas. Christmas should mean taking quality time with your family and friends. Its about cherishing and celebrating the love you share. Sadly, love can get lost amidst of the Christmas hussle and bustle. Sometimes, it is covered up by decorations and gifts, the endless shopping and the Christmas dinner and the parties.

Christmas is a time of festivities, but there is more more to it than that. Chrismas is CHRIST's BIRTHDAY. Its a time to celebreate the GREATEST GIFT EVER GIVEN TO HUMANITY. Can you take a moment for Jesus now, and honor His birthday? Can you spare a minute to tell Jesus that you love Him? Can you stop to thank Jesus for His love, and to reflect on how you can spread more love throughout the world?

Come to think of it, Christmas is the first step of man's salvation. If without Christmas, God's plan for saving people through his Son could not have existed.

It was God's love for people that bought Jesus to earth 2,000 years ago. It was love that gave Jesus the impetus to walk the world and be one of us, to live and die for us. Love was, and still is, the core of Jesus' existence. Everything Jesus has done has been out of love for us personally, and love for humankind as a whole. WE REALLY MEAN THAT MUCH TO GOD, THAT IS WHY HE SENT HIS SON FOR US (John 3:16), and that all perfect plan started on Christmas day. How silly are we to forget that and instead focused on these material things.

This Christmas season, take time for love. If you do, this is the BEST GIFT that we can give God, and it can open possibilities for God to give us special gifts this year as well.

Celebrate love as the main feature of our holiday celebrations. The festive decorations, the sumptous food, the many gifts, most of these will fade into oblivion, and will be forgotten the following year (in fact, i always do forget what happened last Christmas celebrations), lost among the memories of many Christmases; but the love that you have shared and nurtured with other people will live on forever.

Love means making time for others, even if you end up with fewer gifts and less than perfect Christmas season events. The less you clutter your Christmas season, the more time you will have for what really is important, what really matters, the essense of Christmas - which is LOVE..... IT STARTED IT ALL.

Jesus, I thank You for the love that You have shown me, by coming to Earth, by living and dying for me. I want to celebrate this Christmas together with You. I want to know You, to receive Your love, and Your gift of eternal life and salvation. Please touch my life with the love You have to offer, and help me share that love with others too.

Giving It All Up

"How can we stand out in this world on the things we do, if we do not give up the things that is pulling us down?"

This word was given to me by my partner and it created an immediate impact on how things went by during the past two weeks.

The paragraph is simple. We all want to flourish. We all want to succeed. We all want to bloom. And we all want to have that BREAKTHROUGH..

But why does these not happen? Simple. We are so focused on our everyday lives and the things that we became used to, so that we miss out opportunities and we miss out the bigger plan that God has for us. We tend to hold on to something, which we feel, is right, but in reality, pulls us down. It may be a monthly income, a certain bad habit or something that we got used to or something that we have been enjoying for so many years now.

That is why, I've decided on something, that I'll give up on something which is really big, in exchange for something even better. I have to admit, giving up on this big thing will really hurt me and my family, financially. But I have faith in God that He has something in me something bigger, which will restore back and even give me more than what I have given up. And I felt, I am giving this up, because God wants me to. It's just now, I cannot see it, I cannot understand it. What I have is faith on the Lord's Word, that He will take care of me and my family on doing this, and that He promises restoration on all of the things that will be lost from me. AND I AM HOLDING HIS WORD ON IT. After all, HE KNOWS WHAT'S BEST FOR ME. And, as a faithful servant, I would abide on it.

Reference verses:

Psalm 119:105
The Lord's word is a lamp to my feet, and a light to my path.

Psalm 112

Blessed is the man who fears the Lord, who finds great delight in His commands.
His children will be mighty in the land, the generation of the upright will be blessed.
Wealth and riches are in his house, and his righteousness endures forever.
Even in darkness, light dawns for the upright, for the gracious and compassionate and righteous man.
Good will come to him who is generous and lends freely; who conducts his affairs with justice.
Surely, he will NEVER be shaken; a righteous man will be remembered forever.
HE WILL HAVE NO FEAR FOR BAD NEWS; his heart is steadfast, trusting in the Lord.
HIS HEART IS SECURE, he will have no fear.
In the end, he will look in triumph on his foes.

Psalm 37

Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give your the desires of your hear.
Commit your way to the Lord, trust in him and he will do this.
Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for Him;
Do not fret when men succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes.