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.