WHAT IF WALA NG 'NEXT TIME'?

You've been assigned in advance by your Life Group Leader to lead the prayer on one of your Bible Studies, then sabi mo "next time na lang sis.."

You have also been scheduled to lead the worship team on your Sunday Service, pero sabi mo "next time na lang po.."

Next time na lang, busy ako..

Next time na lang, may work kasi ako eh..

Next time na lang, wala akong time..

Next time na lang, hindi kasi ako prepared..

Next time na lang, hindi pa ako ready..

Next time, next time, what if wala ng next time?

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Minsan naisip ko.. pa'no pag sinabi ni Lord sa'tin na..

.. next time na lang kita kakausapin, anak.

.. next time na lang kita ibe-bless.

.. next time na kita patatawarin sa mga kasalanan mo.

.. next time na lang kita papagalingin.

.. next time na lang kita poproteksyonan.

.. next time na lang kita bibigyan ng wisdom, strength, at favor.

.. next time na lang ha, waka kasi Akong time.

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PERO hindi ganon si Lord. Instead, He is a God of many chances. And with Him, though we fall short many times (as in paulit ulit), He will always give us the opportunity to start all over again, the next time.

God is always choosing you. You are a precious gem in His sight, you are honored, loved and important. Since He chose us, my prayer is that we would always..

.. choose God, all the time.

.. prioritize God above anything or anyone else, all the time.

.. draw ourselves near to God, all the time.

.. delight ourselves to God, all the time.

.. love God with all of our heart, mind, soul, strength, all the time.

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Kaya next time, 'pag inassign ka ni leader sa isang gawain, know that it is both an honor and a privilege to be used by God in His ministry. Just respond to the call, no more next time. Because when God called you, He will definitely equip you, He will train you, He will be with you, you just have to say "Here I am. Send me!" (Isaiah 6:8).

PHILIPPIANS 1:6

Being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

PHILIPPIANS 2:12-13 (NLT)

12 Dear friends, you always followed my instructions when I was with you. And now that I am away, it is even more important. Work hard to show the results of your salvation, obeying God with deep reverence and fear. 13 For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases Him.

JOSHUA 1:6 (NLT)

“Be strong and courageous, for you are the one who will lead these people to possess all the land I swore to their ancestors I would give them.

Faith-ing your Silent Battles

Christians are not exempted to experience life's battles. In fact, at times, mas matindi pa.

Minsan, the battles we are experiencing or have experienced leads to depression. And this can make it very difficult to accomplish the daily tasks of life, including the ministry.

In the book DOWNCAST: Biblical and Medical Hope for Depression by Jennifer Huang Harris, she wrote that depression leads to isolation, as it causes the sufferers to withdraw from others. The stigma surrounding depression often reinforces the isolation.

Also, Jennifer addressed significant myths and misconceptions related to depression in the article Do Real Christians Get Depressed?. But I won't be listing down all the myths and misconceptions that she mentioned, rather you can just read this beautiful article right here.

The question is - if a depressed person doesn't have a solid support system from their family, where do they go?

Unfortunately, the church, rather than being a place of healing for those who suffer, can become a place of judgement because of the misconceptions that “real Christians” do not get depressed.

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Now don't get me wrong. What I would like to share here is my personal experience - how I dealt, survived and fought my own silent battles in the light of God's Word.

I am writing this to encourage every soul who is undergoing depression to turn to Jesus and His Word - the ultimate antidote!

There was a time in my life where in I allowed the enemy to take control of my mind and he won most of the time. That time was last year.

I am a loser.

Nobody cares for me.

Everything is my fault.

I am no good - wala akong silbi.

I don't know where to start.

Everything is just falling apart.

I felt helpless and hopeless. I lost interest to do my daily activities - work, household chores, sometimes with the ministry. Tamad na tamad ako kumilos, I always found myself staring at nothing - tulala sa kawalan. I'm feeling physically drained. Losing my energy even if I am not accomplishing anything. Experienced extreme pressure from family members, been wounded by hurtful words. Been self-loathing. Had a strong feeling of worthlessness. And I harshly criticize myself for all mistakes done.

So with all the pressures and negative thinking, I just shut down my world and isolated myself in my room 90% of my waking time. I don't want to talk to anybody at home. I'm losing the discipline to move forward and the passion to continue life. I just wanted to quit and end up everything, basically.

Do I lack faith in Jesus? Wala ba akong prayer time? Wala ba akong maayos na relationship with the Lord? Well, that season taught me that we should not be too quick to judge Christians who are undergoing depression and has been experiencing life's set backs.

Yes, I do have a prayer life and quality devotion time. In fact, I have never spent time with the Lord, never prayed to Him, never cried to Him for help, never asked Him to rescue me like I did during that season. And I praise and thank Him for that.

One thing I've learned that you can never really experience true freedom and deliverance from the bondage of the enemy unless you surrender everything to Him, kahit umiyak ka pa ng isang balde.

And that's the compelling reason why I am writing this blog.

God has His ways of rescuing us. God, through the power of the Holy Spirit, saved me and pulled me out of that situation. Walang nagawa ang mga kasinungalingan ni taning. Kung nagawa ni Lord sa'kin 'yon, He can also do that to you.

His Words spoken to me cut through my heart, and instantly I was enlightened. All the negative thoughts mentioned above, were washed away immediately on my mind. I was blind, but now I can see. Hallelujah!

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Child of God,

1. Whenever you think that nobody cares for you, remember to cast all your anxiety to Him because He cares for you. - 1 Peter 5:7

2. Whenever you think that you don't know where to start, God Himself, the fountain of infinite wisdom and knowledge, promises to personally instruct and teach His children.

Psalm 32:8 - I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with My eye upon you.

3. If you feel that everything is falling apart, remember that the God of heaven and earth will personally hold your right hand to help you.

Isaiah 41:13 - For I, the LORD your God, hold your right hand; it is I who say to you, “Fear not, I am the one who helps you.”

4. If you think that you are loser, remember that you are precious in His sight, you are honored and He loves you.

Isaiah 43:4 - Because you are precious in my eyes, and honored, and I love you, I give men in return for you, peoples in exchange for your life.

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I don't know what you are going through right now, kapatid. Maybe you chose to isolate yourself in the process of dealing with depression. Maybe you don't want to talk to anybody in the fear of being judged, or ayaw mo lang i-explain yung nararamdaman mo sa ibang tao. Believe me, been there, done that.

But one thing's for sure, the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires (Hebrews 4:12).

I pray that you will possess the mind of Christ (1 Corinthians 2:16). I pray that you will be transformed by the renewal of your mind, so that you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is — His good, pleasing and perfect will (Romans 12:2). I pray that you will think whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, whatever is excellent and worthy of praise (Philippians 4:8). And I pray that the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:7).

All these we ask and pray, in Jesus' most powerful name. Amen!

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How are you coping up with your life's challenges? Do you have prayer requests? Feel free to leave a comment.

God bless you!

It's Okay To Not be Okay

Pagod? IT'S OKAY TO NOT BE OKAY, kapatid.

Definitely, we've experienced plenty of setback in our life especially this time, 'di ka nag-iisa.

We define setback as an interruption in progress -- it could be in your family life, finances, business, relationship, or career to name a few. No matter how many setbacks we've experienced in our lifetime, what's important is that we persist in the face of these adversities and we keep on going when we feel like quitting.

Pero, pa'no ba ma-achieve 'yun?

These are NOT the ultimate list, though, but we would like to share with you 5 ways on how to bounce back from any setback. You can also share yours at the comment box below. 😊

REDEFINE WHAT FAILURE MEANS TO YOU.

When rejections come, or your client says no, or you lose the financing, house, or whatever it is that you wanted, slow down and notice what isn’t working.

Sometimes, failure directs us to find new ways, or to redirect our energies. It's a reminder of our commitment level, to re-establish our dedication. We can start on the solution and new approach, and focus on the next big thing that will carry us in the direction that we want to go.

God says on His Word that He is making new things in your life.

Isaiah 43:18-19 (NLT)

“But forget all that — it is nothing compared to what I am going to do. For I am about to do something new. See, I have already begun! Do you not see it? I will make a pathway through the wilderness. I will create rivers in the dry wasteland."

EXPERIENCE DISAPPOINTMENT, BUT DON'T WALLOW IN IT.

Allow yourself to experience the frustration and disappointment that comes with failure, then get up and get going again. Don’t deny your emotions, but make sure that you also come up with a #GamePlan. Have another avenue, activity, or interest to pursue so you don’t get stuck in the despair. God knows your pain. He knows your worries and anxieties. Go to Him and tell all your worries, because He cares for you.

1 Peter 5:7

"Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you."

REST AND GET SOME SLEEP.

Often we lose perspective, and our ability to creatively solve a problem because we are just too tired or hungry. Rest well. A little physical activity is another way to release the angst and gain the clarity you need to persist. Pahinga rin 'pag may time at lapit kay Lord.

Matthew 11:28

“Come to me all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest."

GO AGAIN.

When your proposal is turned down, make the suggested improvements, then send it out to another company or prospect.

When the promotion goes to someone else, sign up for a class that gives you an added skill.

When your partner breaks it off, schedule a dinner with a sibling or close friend and soak up their love.

When you are doubting yourself, feeling like a failure, get up and go again. With persistence, you can overcome any setback.

Joshua 1:9

"Be strong and courageous; do not be frightened or dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go."

PRAY.

Ultimately, we need the power that is higher than us. Let’s ask God to ignite again the passion in us, to motivate us, and to keep us going.

Psalm 145:18-19

"The Lord is near to all who call on Him, to all who call on Him in truth. He fulfills the desires of those who fear Him; He hears their cry and saves them."

I may not know your current situation, but I am certain that the setback is allowed and permitted by our sovereign God for our own pruning and discipline. I pray that we will all endure and persevere with help of our Lord Jesus.

How do you cope up lately? How do you take care of your mental health? Share mo naman. 😉 God bless you!

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Some are taken from this article:

https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/imperfect-spirituality/201502/5-ways-bounce-back-any-setback

Practice What You Preach

Have you ever tried joining an outreach program just because you are required to attend, and as a result, excitement wasn't really there in your heart? Believe me, na-experience ko 'yan. For some reasons, I honestly didn't have the push to attend one On-the-Road Activity of our school, but good thing I did. Everything changed when I was at the actual venue already. My heart just pumped so fast and I enjoyed every single moment of that activity. Thank You Jesus for the grace! 

Last December 14, 2019, all KKB / YAN Batch 1 students of Bro. Eddie School of Ministries International had the chance to visit Bulacan Medical Center as part of our On-the-Job Training.

It was a one-of-a-kind, life changing experience that made me realize so many things about the ministry that is very close to the heart of our Lord Jesus Christ. I thought to myself that we don’t have to be in far-flung areas or remote places just to reach for the lost souls, sometimes they are already in our neighborhood and within our reach. Thanking God for the opportunity to be a channel of hope, blessing and encouragement for those who deeply needs it.

Bulacan Medical Center

When we went up the ward to pray for the patients, I really felt the strong presence of the Holy Spirit. I’m sure everybody did as well. All of us just wanted to go to each bed and pray for the sick. People were depressed, they felt helpless and hopeless and you can trace worries on their faces. They do not know where to get their hope from, where to get money to pay for their bills, to buy for their food, or medicines. Nadurog ang puso ko. Sa lahat ng pinagdadaanan ko that time, I can tell that I am more blessed in so many ways. It was a humbling experience. A time to be grateful to the Lord for every blessings that He gave to me and my family – both seen and unseen.

There was one woman who was suffering from blood infection. I cannot forget her because when we started praying, we just can’t stop the tears running down our cheeks. Umagos na ang luha. Nadama namin ang matinding pag-ibig ng Diyos. May mga pagkakataon na wala nang salitang lumalabas sa bibig ko, tila ang pag-agos na lang ng luha ang nagsilbing panalangin namin sa Diyos. She was hurting, not physically but emotionally. I believed in my heart that she accepted the Lord Jesus Christ in her life as her Lord and personal Savior. We ended the prayer with a tight embrace which I think she needed at that time. I wasn’t able to get her name and number, though.

Thank You Jesus for allowing us to be part of this activity. I can’t put into words how this experience made an impact in my heart.

In our goal to be like Jesus, this hospital visitation definitely increased our love and compassion for others, the very reason why it is part of Jesus Is Lord Church Worldwide's CORE Values.

Lord I pray that as we continue to serve You, make our heart to be more loving, to be more compassionate, and to be more willing to serve others before ourselves. In Jesus Name, Amen!

Below are some of the verses we can use and claim with faith when we are praying for the sick:

PHYSICAL HEALING

1. Exodus 15:26 ~ "He said, “If you listen carefully to the LORD your God and do what is right in his eyes, if you pay attention to his commands and keep all his decrees, I will not bring on you any of the diseases I brought on the Egyptians, for I am the LORD, who heals you.
2. Exodus 23:25 ~ "Worship the LORD your God, and his blessing will be on your food and water. I will take away sickness from among you…"
3. Jeremiah 30:17 ~ "But I will restore you to health and heal your wounds,’ declares the LORD"
4. 1 Peter 2:24 ~ "He himself bore our sins” in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; “by his wounds you have been healed.”
5. Isaiah 53:5 ~ "But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed."

EMOTIONAL HEALING

1. Proverbs 4:20-22 ~ "My son, pay attention to what I say; turn your ear to my words. Do not let them out of your sight, keep them within your heart; for they are life to those who find them and health to one’s whole body."
2. Proverbs 17:22 ~ "A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones."
3. Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 ~ "There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens: a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot, a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build, a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance, a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them, a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing, a time to search and a time to give up, a time to keep and a time to throw away, a time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak, a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace."
4. Isaiah 33:2 ~ "LORD, be gracious to us; we long for you. Be our strength every morning, our salvation in time of distress."
5. James 5:6 ~ "Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective."

New Year, New Hope

Awake until the wee hours of the morning today making posts for the Facebook page I am managing. But I know that I cannot just post a #VOTD for the sake of posting -- that needs a Word meditation, it needs spending time with God's presence. So while meditating, many Bible verses struck me -- God's Words that I know my heart needs at that moment. I am immediately comforted. I felt peace.

But just before I went to bed, one verse caught my attention. I know it's the Lord speaking to me and I just found myself crying in the dark.

Isaiah 45:5 (NIV)

 I am the Lord, and there is no other, apart from Me there is no other God. I will strengthen you, though you have not acknowledged Me.

Then, I broke down. The Lord still cares for me because He gently rebukes the coldness of my heart. I have not been spending time with Him before 2018 ends. I have been spending it through the worldly and temporary satisfactions of this world. I've mentioned in my previous entry that I've made wrong and unwise decisions during the last quarter of 2018. The challenges I've experienced made my heart to be distant from the Lord instead of abiding in Him during those challenging times. I did not sought His will. I have pursued my own ways and desires. I seldom pray, and that made my heart dry.

Praise God for He still speaks to me through His Word, though I have ignored Him many times these past few days. Truly the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart (Hebrews 4:12).

Oh how I am sorry Lord. Forgive me Lord, please give me another chance to correct the mistakes I've done in the past. Thank You Father for humbling me through those challenges. I miss You, God. I miss hanging out with You. I miss our talks. I miss our "we time". I love You, God. I love You, Lord.

Isaiah 45:3-4 (NIV) 

3 I will give you hidden treasures, riches store in secret places, so that you may know that I am the Lord, the God of Israel, who summons you by name. 

4 For the sake of Jacob, my servant, of Israel my chosen, I summon you by name and bestow on you a title of honor, though you do not acknowledge Me.

Thank You, God. I praise and thank you. Please lead me to spend time more with You in the secret place. May this failing heart of mine acknowledge Your marvelous doings in my life, all of my waking time. I want to know You more, I want to grow deeper with You. May I not forget all Your benefits. May I proclaim Your saving acts in the presence of the great assembly. In Jesus' mighty Name, Amen!

Uncharted Territory

An uncharted territory. It's already been weeks [and counting] since I got in this foreign land. Terror creeps in and doubt starts lurking as I explore the unfamiliar terrain I am into where different breed of lions are. A character that is definitely not possessed by the Joshua Generation.

I have had bad decisions in my career life for the past months. Bad, as in foolish and unwise acts. Disciplining process was very painful, and consequences of my disobedience were felt by my whole household which made it even more agonizing. It was definitely one of those humbling periods in my life. I've had many crying nights -- a cry for help, a shout for rescue.

Jesus, I need You. Every bit of my body, heart, soul, spirit needs You. Every area of my life is useless and cannot accomplish anything without You. Help me go through this Lord for Your Name's sake. 

And the Lord heard my plea! My heart leaped for joy because specific prayers were finally answered. God responded to my desperate prayers and I landed a job. But as I delve into this unexplored, undiscovered ground (well, at least for me), my heart started to doubt again. Fear is making its way into my mind...again.

Am I too old for this? I am competing with these young ones whose work experiences are something that this company is looking for. I'm having a hard time catching up with the lingo, culture, jargon, and process flow of this industry. Felt that my 10-year professional experience is nothing compared to theirs.

Jesus, You are the source of everything. Equip me with Your divine wisdom and courageous character. Help me not to be drowned in the sea of doubt. I am reaching my hand to You, take the wheel, my Lord and take full control of my life. Help me conquer this land and conquer my fear, to be excellent in this field and to bloom where You've planted me for Your glory alone! 

Yeah! Talking about insecurities. I may not share with  you all the details YET, but I thank the Lord for this time. It's not every day that I get to write an entry and I wanted to thank the Lord and the sweet Holy Spirit for this moment. But for those who are experiencing or have experienced the same, this song from Don Moen is definitely on point. May our heart sing praises to God in every seasons of our life.

Uncharted Territory

Verse 1
I find myself in uncharted territory
Never felt so lost never felt so lonely
Where are You Lord

I'm so afraid I can feel the fear inside me
Can't control the chaos all around me
Where are You Lord
How can I sing the Lord's song in a foreign land

Chorus 1
(But) How can I forget
All You've done for me
Everything You've done Lord
Just to set me free
Teach me how to pray
Teach me how to praise
Even in the darkness
Teach me how to sing Your song
(Your song gonna sing Your song)

Verse 2
How can I sing when my heart is broken
When every prayer is just a token
Where are You Lord

Sometimes our pain can tell a tragic story
Still I will praise You and give You glory
Where are You Lord
Help me to sing the Lord's song in this foreign land

Chorus 2
(But) How can I forget
All You've done for me
You have been so faithful
Meeting every need
Teach me how to pray
Teach me how to praise
Even in the darkness
Teach me how to sing Your song
Your song gonna sing Your song

Feel free to share anything about the unwise decisions you've had in your career life and how Jesus helped you go through it.

God bless your good heart! :)

Rainy Days and Long Walks

It's been a while since my last blog entry. Writer's block, as they say. But I think, being unable to write or proceed with the blog is not the real problem. As I try to attempt confessing a part of me, I hope and pray that this will be God's instrument to restore what the enemy has destroyed in you.

Today, almost every road and streets in the Metro felt the afternoon drizzle. Rush hour and Christmas season adds to the horrifying traffic in Manila. Despite of the rainy weather today, my heart remained so dry. I was like this for a couple of days, maybe weeks I think.

My heart knew that it must be soaked in God's Words, that it must be sprinkled with the Living Water, and must be planted by the streams to grow and be alive. But.. but.. even if the mind is willing, the flesh is so weak.

Not until today..

I was conversing with the Lord on my way home while traversing Makati Avenue from Ayala Avenue. Reason why I liked long walks because I enjoy talking to the Lord. But that moment, I don't know what to pray. All I know is I want to pray, but I have no idea on what to say to the Lord.

So, I asked the Holy Spirit (the Advocate) with all of my heart to guide me on what I need to pray (Romans 8:26, John 14:26, Luke 12:12). And suddenly I started to speak in tongues. Revelations came through like a gush of wind. Worship songs came out of my heart and mouth. The Lord has just impressed in my heart that I am designed to worship Him. That every time I wake up in the morning, my top priority is to worship Him -- nothing more, nothing less.

Worshiping God is my top priority. As I keep on repeating those words over my head, while walking over Makati-Mandaluyong bridge, under the starless sky, tears came rolling down my cheeks very quickly. Teleserye feels. Hehe :)

God proved [again] that He can immediately restore our fellowship with Him if we humble ourselves before Him, admit our sins, and acknowledge our great need of Him. Immediate restoration is just an easy thing in the eyes of the Lord. Yes! You've read it right. But there has to be a genuine repentance. We have to humble our hearts and admit our sins. We must come nearer to God, and He will draw Himself nearer to us (James 4:8).


Remembering King Manasseh on this scenarios (2 Chronicles 33:12-13)..

DESIRE

2 Chronicles 33:12 

"In his distress he sought the favor of the Lord his God and humbled himself greatly before the God of his ancestors."

You may want to back read on the life of King Manasseh on the detestable things he did in the eyes of the Lord from verses 1-9. The Lord spoke to him and his people but they paid no attention. So God allowed the king to be captured. King Manasseh's distressful moment was used by God so that the proud and stubborn king would be humbled causing him to call upon the name of the Lord.

Is your spiritual life dry, lifeless, no fresh and new revelations, has lack of excitement to pray or read the Word of God? Does social media excites you more rather than spending time with the Lord? If yes, you are one-inch close in dying spiritually. Zombified -- alive but not alive. Walking dead in other words.

If that's the case, desire to have spiritual revival and restoration. Pray that your heart will want to experience new things from the Lord and that you want to hear Him again. Crave and be hungry for God. Aspire to experience His nearness. Be fascinated in who He is. Seek, dwell, and gaze upon His beauty once more.

DECIDE

2 Chronicles 33:13 

"And when he prayed to him, the Lord was moved by his entreaty and listened to his plea; so he brought him back to Jerusalem and to his kingdom. Then Manasseh knew that the Lord is God."

Your desire must not remain as a desire. There has to be an immediate action. Pray that your heart will start to delight and meditate again on His laws day and night (Joshua 1:8, Psalm 1:2). Go to your secret place and start talking to God through prayers. Although He knew every thoughts of men and nothing is hidden from Him, God still wants us to call unto Him (Jeremiah 33:3). Be around with fellow believers. Feed the soul with God's Words by attending midweeks and Sunday services.

As well all know, the Lord is so gracious, compassionate, slow to anger, and His love is abounding (Psalm 103:8). Enjoy the presence of the Lord and all the benefits of the Cross of Calvary when we have a renewed, restored fellowship with God.

Worried by long months of drought? Worry no more!

The most wonderful time of the year is here! Everyone is really merry & excited during this season of gift-giving, buying presents and toys for loved ones, reunions left and right, all the glitz and glamour brought by Christmas parties. But aside from that, I know you would agree with me, it's also the most awaited season for the corporate workers -- Bonus time!

It is this benefit that makes an employee and their families very happy. It's an employer's retention strategy and it's really working, (not for me I guess).

But is the bonus season really the reason of happiness for most of us? Yes that will make a lot of food on the table, a lot of gifts for loved ones, that would mean a lot of savings in the bank, but will 'bonus' define our happiness and contentment?

Prophet Jeremiah says on Chapter 17, verses 7 to 8:

“But blessed are those who trust in the Lord and have made the Lord their hope and confidence. They are like trees planted along a riverbank, with roots that reach deep into the water. Such trees are not bothered by the heat or worried by long months of drought. Their leaves stay green, and they never stop producing fruit."

• The term blessed is used often in Psalms and Deuteronomy to describe the benefits that accrue to a person who is devoted to the Lord and His Word. 
• The imagery of a fruitful tree derives directly from Psalm 1:3. This verse teaches that a person who trust in the Lord will not be free from trials and adversity; rather God will bring fruit and blessing in and through those difficulties (Jeremiah 14:1-9, 15:19-21).
• Such trees are not bothered by the heat or worried by long months of drought! Whoah! What a confidence! Those who trust in the Lord will not be bothered whether they receive a bonus or not. Worry has no room in their minds even if with season of long droughts.

I don't know what you are going through, but believe me I have experienced extreme heat brought by the long months of drought. Yes. That season made our food, water, and financial supply to really shrunk. But we survived by the grace of God!

I have to admit that this wasn't a good testimony. It's when I've made one of the worst decisions in my career. I left my job of more than 2 years without any back up plans, and I left during this bonus season. Can you imagine that? With the little savings I have, on I went to leave the company without thinking its consequences. And although I know this theoretically, that you should've at least 6 months of savings when you resigned just to survive for at least 2 months, I wasn't able to apply it. As a result of my disobedience, my whole household experienced the heat, contrary to the abundance brought by the 'ber' months. 

I've learned my lessons and was disciplined by God, the hard way. But it was worth it, because He disciplines those He loves. I believe that breaking seasons are preparations for breakthrough (Ptr. Alex Garcia). I hold on to His promises. I clung and continuously cling to the Lord. I enjoyed the moment of brokenness before Him. 

So if you feel like the rain of blessing isn't pouring on you right now, do not panic, do not be afraid. But put your hope and confidence in the Lord, the Owner of everything. He can provide you and your family not just 13th, 14th, 15th, 16th month pay, but instead, we can plunge and swim in the unlimited supply of His riches. Hallelujah!

PRAYER:

Dear Lord, help us to put our trust in You and not on the wealth of this world. Remind us Lord that is You who gave us the ability to produce wealth. Holy Spirit help us to be good stewards of everything God has entrusted to us. In Jesus' Name. Amen.

Lead the Flock

1 Peter 5:2-4 (NIV)
"Be shepherds of God's flock that is under your care, watching over them - not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not pursuing dishonest gain, but eager to serve, not lording it over those entrusted to you, by being examples to the flock."

You're a leader. You're now leading the pack of believers and directing them to be more intimate with the Great Shepherd, Jesus Christ. But how will you, as a shepherd, lead the flock entrusted by God if you're suddenly lost of the way? How will you get back on track? Allow me to share with you these sweet revelations from the Holy Spirit.

The shepherd's primary responsibility is the safety and welfare of the flock. They guard the flock from predators. In Biblical times, the Middle Eastern shepherd's job was dangerous and dirty. Many times they had to fight wild animals and their lives were really put on the line. At night, the shepherd would put up a makeshift pen with one way in and out. The sheep, on the other hand, would only follow and listen to the voice of their shepherd. 

So let's go back now to our question. What happens if the shepherd who's supposedly leading the flock suddenly gets lost? Same as a writer, who unexpectedly, is unable to think what to write or how to proceed with his/her writing a.k.a writer's block. Or a dancer who suddenly couldn't choreographed a single routine. HOW WILL YOU PROCEED?

Few things:

1. You can't live a life of purpose if you're living a sinful life.
Ouch but true. A leader gets lost in his/her Christian journey because of sins. Sin MUST NOT be your master (Romans 6:14). As a leader, you shall not be 'displaying' a holy life, but you must live it out as well and be a great example to the flock. You must be able to determine who is your master in your private & public lives and live in a way that pleases God.

2. God cannot work in a dirty vessel -- so repent.
Repentance before restoration. True repentance happens when we see sin as God sees sin. Let those who love the Lord hate evil (Psalm 97:10). Repentance is an honest, regretful acknowledgement of sin with commitment to change.

Charles Spurgeon

Repentance is a discovery of the evil of sin, a mourning that we have committed it, a resolution to forsake it. It is, in fact, a change of mind of a very deep and practical character, which makes the man love what once he hated, and hate what once he loved.

3. Focus on Jesus, the Author and Perfecter of our faith
Hebrews 12:2 says "Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God". Fixing our eyes on Jesus will block out all distractions in life. God knows the very condition of our hearts. Be humble and honest to God and acknowledge that we need His help on this area, actually in all areas of our lives. Joshua won all his battles because the Lord was with him. His obedience to God was exemplary.

Remember that no matter, how anointed, how talented, and how able we are, apart from the Lord, we are nothing. After all, this is His ministry, they are His flock, not ours.

Prayer:
Dear Lord, thank you for Your forgiveness. Thank You for not abandoning us, but for reaching out instead to bring us home. Help us Lord to live a life that is pleasing in Your sight. Help us to lead Your flock with integrity, faithfulness, and excellence. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Trusting God through Life's Turbulence

“It’s now 3 minutes past 8 in the morning, and we will now start to descend. Please fasten your seat belt as we will have slight to moderate turbulence. Estimated time of arrival in Manila is at 8:30..”



Enjoying this view when the pilot announced that we will now start to descend, and slight to moderate turbulence will be felt. Although ang ganda ng clouds above here, the moment you go through them is a different experience. Maalog, malubak, and sometimes parang biglang babagsak. Especially when the plane you are into is the small one, you’ll really feel everything.

So, we pass through the giant clouds. Intercession became intense. And while interceding, the Lord just comforted me on the Isaiah 43:2 promise. Pero dahil my heart is so weak, kinakabahan pa rin ako while traversing the cloudy sky. But God revealed in my failing heart that He separated the Red Sea so that the Israelites can pass thru and reach their destination safely, ulap pa kaya. What I am praying to the Lord is just an easy thing in His eyes.

Few minutes later, Manila skyscrapers are starting to peep in. We made it through the clouds, hurray! Thank You Lord. But until we land on the grounds of Manila, praying hasn’t stop yet. The Holy Spirit was too quick to speak in my heart that I / we should be like this in prayer.

1. We will definitely experience storms and turbulence in life, but know that God will be with us. That when you walk through the turbulence of pain, of struggles, of depression, of problems, God will be with you and He WILL NEVER abandon you. That when you walk through the fire of problems, the flame will not set you ablaze.

Isaiah 43:2 (NLT)

"When you go through deep waters, I will be with you.

When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown.

When you walk through the fire of oppression,

you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you."

Hebrews 13:5 (NLT)

For God has said, "I will never fail you. I will never abandon you."

2. And when you see glimpse of hope, don’t stop praying until you see your prayers being answered. Be like Hannah.

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 New Living Translation (NLT)

Always be joyful. Never stop praying.

Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.

1 Samuel 2:1 (NLT)

“My heart rejoices in the Lord! The Lord has made me strong.

Now I have an answer for my enemies; I rejoice because You rescued me."

3. When you reached your destination or when the prayer has been answered, acknowledged that it is and will always be God’s doing and not ours. Life’s turbulence are part of God’s strategies to sharpen our trust. Thank God for allowing such because it means that you are privileged and blessed to experience first hand the miraculous moving of God’s hands in your life.

Psalm 3:8a (NLT)

"Victory comes from You, Lord."

Exodus 14:14 (NIV)

"The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.”

PRAYER:

Thank You Lord for sharpening my trust through life's turbulence. May I always cling unto You, the finisher and perfecter of my faith. May this failing heart of mine always find rest and refuge in You. In Jesus' Name. Amen.

Becoming the Joshua Generation

The recently concluded Youth Summit 2018 Legacy Bearers held last October 19-20, 2018 at the Cuneta Astrodome led by the Kristiyanong Kabataan Para sa Bayan (KKB) and Christian Youth for the Nation (CYN), the national and international youth arm of the Jesus Is Lord Church Worldwide, has made the youth took on the challenge of bearing and continuing the legacy. They embraced that they are really the youth of the nation, the franchise-holders of the future, and the legacy bearers.

But what is the legacy to be passed on, by the way? And what are the qualities of such legacy bearer?

We commit to tackle that on the following entries, but for the mean time let's put our focus on one Bible character who caught our attention from the two-day summit. May the Holy Spirit's enlightening power & guidance be with us right now.

Joshua

Son of Nun from the tribe of Ephraim. Moses' assistant and successor. Leader of God's army. Believer of the impossible. Obedient follower of God. Brave warrior and conqueror.

These are some of the great qualities we want to possess as a leader or as a follower of God.

The attentive student of Moses led the Israelites to enter the promised land after 40 years in the desert. Joshua was destined to turn the promise into reality. God's promise to Abraham, Isaac, Jacob (Genesis 6:4) and Moses (Genesis 6:8) to give the land of Canaan is now historically fulfilled in the life of Joshua (Joshua 1:1-6, 21:43-45).

So what made this assistant so great that his leadership was remembered from generation to generation?

Joshua in his youth experienced the bitter realities of slavery in Egypt. He also witnessed the plagues and the Red Sea miracle as the Israelites tried to escape the Egyptian army and then the water opened before them.

Thanks to his discipler and a great follower of God, Moses. With God's help, it was Joshua who led the troops of Israel to victory over the Amalekites (Exodus 17:8–13). He alone was allowed to accompany Moses up the holy mountain where the tablets of the law were received (Exodus 24:13–14). And it was he who stood watch at the temporary tent of meeting Moses set up before the tabernacle was erected (Exodus 33:11).

As the Joshua generation entered the promised land under his leadership after circling in one whole generation (40 years), we are reminded on these powerful traits that that generation possess.


1. The Joshua Generation is a generation of accomplishment.

Where Deuteronomy ends, the book of Joshua begins. God is faithful to His promises and He never delays it, it is always on time. His promises to His patriarchs to enter the promised land was completed in Joshua's time. This act completed God's mission which He started with Moses of redeeming and bringing the Israelites out of slavery. Like Moses, Jesus delivered us from the bondage of sin and slavery. And like Joshua, Jesus will bring us to our eternal Promised Land and everlasting rest (Hebrews 4:8-10).


2. The Joshua Generation values holiness in the camp.

They do not tolerate ungodliness. They will have renewed call to godly and holy living. They will seek and fear the Lord and will passionately walk in His presence. Achan syndrome (Joshua 7) will not be tolerated.


3. The Joshua Generation will be believers of the impossible.

After the 10 spies reported horrible things about the land they are about to enter, the Israelites began weeping all night and complain to Moses. It's as if they are complaining to the Lord instead of believing Him after all the miracles God did for them. But Joshua and Caleb encouraged the people that the land is indeed wonderful (Numbers 14:7). And if the Lord is pleased with them, God will bring them safely into that land that is flowing with rich milk and honey (Numbers 14:8). Joshua said that the Lord is with them and they don't need to be afraid (v. 9).


4. The Joshua Generation honors the leadership of the previous generation.

In spite of the previous generation wandering in the wilderness for 40 years, Joshua still remained as a faithful servant of his leader, Moses (Ex. 33:11). Joshua bided his time and served faithfully until Moses transitioned out, and God commissioned him as the new leader. Young leaders that are impatient and want their mantle prematurely will find out the hard way that their gifts and abilities are not enough to take them into the promised land. Consequently, people who dishonor their leaders from the previous generation will not be trusted by God to lead the next generation.

Arise -- Joshua generation!

Here are some of the snippets from the Youth Summit 2018 Legacy Bearers!

Sea of worshipers endlessly praising the Lord!

Embrace the calling, KKBs!

KKBs and CYNs re-surrendering their lives to the Lord.

KKBs and CYNs is now taking the challenge!

Our number one agenda is to stand up for God's agenda! ~ Bro. Eddie Villanueva