Talk to Him

Written on October 30, 2006

How can we talk to God? Does God hear our prayers? Is prayer effective?


If I have to ask, prayer is indeed very effective ! It is one of the most important acts of worship to God...it is the most necessary thing to do here on Earth. Even busy people pray... even a child can utter a simple prayer and even a dying person can also pray. It is the most important privilege thing that God had given to us. Because, through it... we are able to communicate with the Lord. Everyday, every hour, every minute and even every second, from a simple prayer can also grow to a deep prayer and you can feel that the presence of the Holy Spirit is talking to you.


But..does He really hear our prayer?


Yes of course! He is always listening to our prayers. How short or how long it would be...as long as it came from our heart, God is very close to us that He can also hear the beat of our heart even the sound of our breathing. His amazing power is immeasurable. Even our darkest secret can be heard if only we reveal it to the Lord with all our heart and for us to ask forgiveness.


It is not an extra option...it is not a choice...it is not a way to spare your free time...Make a prayer your habit because you just not pleases God... you are also enjoying because God is communicating to you.

Dreams

Written on October 20, 2006

What if God has given you the ability to see something that even a naked eye wouldn't see? What if you are able to do the things that you cannot do? What if your world suddenly changed and eventually you became one of the richest people here on Earth?


All these things only happen in dreams.. but sometimes you want that dream to happen in reality... that one day you will be able to get what you want.. not just in dreams but in your real life. In our dreams, we can reach even the fartest place on Earth and even in the whole universe... we can be able to get something in an instant. In dreams, we are exactly different.


But what if dreams do come true?


Well, we cannot say what will happen next in our lives. Sometimes we do realize that in our daily life, sometimes we used to think that it already happened. I guess most of us experience this. But still we are a bit confused and bewildered. Again... we still cannot tell what will happen next.


But one thing is for sure...


Dreams also have meanings...


It just not happened in our lives but it did reveal several times in the Bible. The perfect example for that is the experience of Joseph the Dreamer to his brothers and during his times in the land of Egypt. Another example for that is the dream of the King of Babylon who eventually consulted it to Daniel...


We must not take it for granted.. because God is also communicating through our dreams. He is telling something to us of what will happen in our future... of what other things that we must do. Maybe, we can have a vision... Only God knows everything. If we encounter this, don't ignore it... instead we must ask God why did it happen and we will realize that God is revealing something for us.


And sometimes... we also day dream... and if God allows... He will make that dream come true.. ^_^

Freedom

Written on October 25, 2006

Where the Spirit of the Lord is there is freedom!


What does it mean to be free? Is it the total freedom from the antagonist of your life? Or is it the total happiness that you really want to have from the very beginning?


We have so many reasons of freedom. From different concepts of our lives, we are able to come up with the meaning of freedom. It may be freedom from obsession of something... freedom from depression... freedom from someone... Well, it's up to you where to place that word.


But there is more important concept of freedom.


It was the time when we got the eternal freedom from sin. Yes.. we still commit sins but we are not living into doing that thing. Because we are already free! We are free from the bondage of guilt, from the bondage of slavery... we are free from everything! That freedom comes only from the One Who died for us. Jesus Christ Who is Holy and Perfect reached out for us and gave us the freedom that even the most powerful president cannot give. Aren't you glad that you already have the freedom? If you are still not aware that you already have the freedom... check yourself.. maybe you still cannot leave something that is living in you. Whatever it is.. it is for you to find out. Ask for God to take that.. pray..pray..pray...

A Heart that Prepares for a Revival

Written on September 22, 2006

There's a phrase in the book by Gunter Krallmann entitled "Heart Preparation For Revival" and I was quite astounded to what I have read. It became an inspiration to me.

'Evangelism targets the salvation of non-Christians, revival focuses on the revitalisation of Christians. Evangelism is an ongoing human responsibility, revival a temporary divine visitation.'

I believe that there is a major difference between evangelism and revival. And from what I have read, I finally understood that evangelism is a work of Christian to spread the message of salvation to non-Christians. Revival, on the other hand is the work of Christian to stimulate the mind, heart and soul of the Christian to grow maturely by the Father's love. Sometimes it does require "re-invention" 'cause many of us, especially the Christians are very prone to do wrong in the sight of our Creator. What I want to emphasize to this is that, as we continue to live here on Earth, we have to realize that we are not living for this world but we are living here for the sake of Christ's Love for us and not for our own selfish desires.

If we know that we are doing something wrong to someone, to something and even to our ownselves, we have to know that we need revival. It is not an easy work nor it is not that difficult. All God wanted for us is the purity of our hearts to repent our sins and turn back from it. We must realize that we died in our own body and we are born again from the Spirit of God Who created and loved us from the very beginning. Pray, pray pray. . . Even if sometimes we think that our prayers are not being answered, we have to know that there is a perfect reason why it didn't happen and something better will be done for us. All we have to do is to trust our One and Only God.

With the determination that comes from God and with the power of the Holy Spirit, you can also do what every people could do... Prepare your heart... Prepare your heart for Revival. And expect for the greater blessing to come. That promise didn't come from me but from the One who Created me.. and from the One Who created you...

Godbless us all! Revive and live with the power of God. All things are done according to God's plan and decision. (Eph.1:11) and if we know that God listens when we pray, we know that our prayers have already been aswered. (1 John 5:15) ^_^

Trial is a Blessing

Written on October 2, 2006

"On that day you will be glad, even if you have to go through many hard trials for a while." 1 Peter 1:6

This is one of the many great promises of God to us. We have to lengthen our faith and keep our trust in Him because nothing is impossible to Him. Trial can also be a blessing... because when we encounter this, we draw closer to God.

But how can we hold on to Him when it seems that everything is passing away? How can we continue to live on even if we think that there is no reason for us to live by? How can we overcome this hard test of God?

Have faith!


God did not allow us to suffer this kind of pain if we are not able to endure it. God knows how strong we are that even huge storm cannot make us not to draw close to Him.


During times of Noah, God said to him that he must warn the people to bring back to God or else they will die because of a huge storm. God told him to build a large boat for his family to live because He will send a huge storm to destroy the Earth. Because of Noah's faith in God, he built the ark even if people around him kept on mocking and making fun of him. The huge storm started. It lasted for forty days and forty nights. Because of Noah's faith, he and his family lived. All the people living on Earth, even plants and animals died because of the tremendous flood. Because of Noah's faith he experienced the blessings that even from his wildest dreams never existed. Because of Noah's faith he became closer and closer to God.


During times of tests, especially while suffering from the pain, we must remember that this is not a trial... but this is a "big" blessing from God. I know it's hard to think what I want to point out but this is great encouragement for everyone of us..


Trial is a blessing.


"Your faith will be like gold that has been tested in a fire. And these trials will prove that your faith is worth much more than gold that can be destroyed. They will show that you will be given praise and honor and glory when Jesus Christ returns." I Peter 1:6-7


God bless us all! ^_^

When we learn how to appreciate small things

Written on October 12, 2006

What a great feeling to be successful! I know all of us are dreaming of becoming a successful person someday. The feelings wherein we are always happy because everything turns out to what we are expecting.


But success does not only measure the happiness of one person toward something. Success also comes when you are facing many difficulties and hardships in life. It is when you are able to continue your life without giving up and striving to move on from the failure that you have made. Yes, we are not perfect but we are not a failure. Nobody in this world was born to be a failure. We are here in this world to stand up from the things that we know is right and correcting from the mistakes that we've done. We must not say that we are not blessed because we always suffer from hard tests and problems... but we must be glad that we become stronger from the problems that we are encountering. Like what every body says, "There is a reason for everything." So, what we must do is to wait for that perfect plan for us. God has in store for each and everyone of us...(believe me).


Success does not also measure the experience of wealth and convenience. It does measure the perseverance of one person even from his or her difficult situation. Contentment is also a success. Being contented to what you have is a great sign that you are enjoying what God has given to you. If you are comfortable in this place, then why do you have to go other place and search for something that will satisfy your needs? Success comes when you realize that you can grow maturely in a way that God wants you to be. Going to somewhere, search for something better, find for greater opportunity.. well, those are not bad... Indeed, it is good that you want to explore for something which you do not experience yet.. but... and a BIG but... if you crave for that "thing" and be obsessed that you are thinking for your present life as a mess or something...well, that's not a success.. because you are being selfish. You still want to achieve for something which God has not given to you because He knows that you are already experiencing the blessing that He wanted you to have.

To sum it all up... let us be contented in what we have right now. Don't envy others because they have the blessing that you also wanted to have. God is a wise God. You will never know what will happen into your life... because God knows best. So, measure your success even from small things.. and you will learn how to appreciate everything... God bless us all!

Blessing, Gift, Happiness

Written on November 6, 2006

If you receive a blessing... expect more to come!


Blessing. Gift. Happiness.


These are the words that you always wanted to have. Well, most of us wanted all of these. Most of us are doing so many things just to have blessing that we want to have. We also want to receive gift and to be happy in the end. Sometimes in our own unconsious mind, we didn't realize that a simple thing could make a big blessing to someone. Sometimes, in our own selfish desire, we didn't realize that instead of having the happiness that we wanted for ourselves, loneliness comes to someone who is willing to give us the blessing that we want to have. Sometimes, we hurt people in a way that we want ourselves to gain happiness.


What is the true meaning of blessing?


Blessing is far different from luck. As Christian, we don't believe in luck. In an instance that we suddenly receive a good news, we don't say that, "I'm just lucky." But it is indeed a blessing from God. Blessing comes when we deserve to have it. Blessing comes when we learn how to persevere. Blessing comes when we realize that simple things from simple deed is indeed a blessing. Well, actually, everything is a blessing. You may not realize it... but like what I have said in my previous entry, even a trial could be a blessing.


When am I going to receive a gift?


When you hear the word gift, what comes first to your mind? Well, most of us will think that it is a material blessing. A cellphone from your mother, or a laptop given by your father. Wow! Those are gifts! And we usually receive gifts when we are celebrating for something. Whether it is a birthday, or maybe graduation day. Whatever celebration, we always desire to receive gift. But, when can I have it? Do we really need to wait for graduation or birthdays for us to receive something? You know, it may be odd to think, but for me, giving something to someone is like receiving a precious gift from someone. When we begin to give, we will realize that we are also learning to reaceive gift in a way that material things are not included.


And that is a gift of happiness.


People search so many things just to be happy. They spend a lot of money in order to gain happiness. When they'd reach their desired expectation, they still realize that they are not happy and in the end, they were not contented in what they have. Happiness do not measure the state of having "all" the blessings on Earth. Happiness is not to be searched... it is always found in a situation wherein we are contented in what we have. When we have a blessing and we want that blessing to be shared to someone... well, expect that happiness comes next. Happiness is not expected... it just goes on unexpectedly. I tell you... this is true.

Downside

Written on September 24, 2006

Ever had an experience of falling apart? A situation where everybody's eyes are looking downside at you. You have never done anything wrong at their side and one wrong move made a very big mistake to them. Ever had the situation of being persecuted?

I guess everybody encounters this kind of situation. A situation wherein you don't do know what to do if you have gone into doing something wrong which is not that big compared to someone who is used to doing that kind of thing. It may not be a big mistake but for the eyes of someone who is not used to see you doing that kind of thing, it will be very controversial to them.

Well of course I know you are hurt when someone persecuted you. We all have feelings to be hurt and we have no choice but to hide that pain in ourselves so that nobody will recognize how painful it is to you. We are hiding our feeling of being hurt and we let people perceive us a strong one.

We are all not perfect. As Christians, we are obliged to do good at the sight of the people and of course at the sight of God but sometimes in our human being, we do commit mistakes and be drawn in doing sins. We must imitate the works of Christ here on Earth. We must live a Christ-like image. We must be a reflector of Jesus Christ. But then, in our own selfish desire, sometimes we do commit sins and it will not be pleasing at the sight of God. And when we commit sins, people around us will easily notice it and they will mock at us… they will say something bad for us….they will persecute us. But one thing that makes us different from non-Christians.

It’s the ability to have the nature of asking forgiveness every time we commit sins. It’s like, we cannot sleep the whole night without asking forgiveness from our Father. All we have to do is to prepare our hearts in asking forgiveness….make it pure and pleasing to God. You know what? The greatest thing for that situation is that God is always ready to forgive us. He just wants us to ask for it, repent and turn away from the wrong thing that you’ve done. And in an instant, you are already forgiven! It’s because Jesus Christ paid all our sins in the Mount of Calvary two thousand years ago. The sins that we’ve done, the sin that we are doing and the sins that we are about to do. All those sins are already forgiven because of the blood of Jesus Christ. What a great Love! Our God really deserves to be praised.

So, when someone mock at you… said something bad about you. Don’t be sad.. instead be happy because that someone notices how Jesus Christ lives in you. And make him realized that even though you have committed a sin, Jesus Christ could still be able to cleanse it…. Because God loves you so much. And you will not let the Devil conquer you instead you will conquer evil by the power of God that lives in you.

"I don’t care if they curse me, as long as You bless me.”
Psalm 109:28

Everyday

Written on October 18, 2006

"This is the day the Lord has made... I will rejoice and be glad in it."


What will you say if your friend from old days suddenly sees you and asked, "How are you?" or in tagalog, "Kamusta ka na?" Well, I know everyone of us will say the usual answer like, "Ok naman...katulad pa rin ng dati."


But that is not the right thing to say... instead we must answer them like this, "Ok na ok... much better than before." Because everyday is a new day for us. A new beginning. A new challenge... and a new blessing. Because our Lord changes us "everyday". Like the song:


Binabago Mo ako araw-araw
Binabago Mo ako araw-araw
Ngayon, bukas at kailanman,
Ang pag-ibig Mo ay laging tapat.


If Jesus' expression of love was sweet yesterday, well... today His love is much sweeter than yesterday. And because of that we tranform into a better individual because He is the reason why we change everyday. If you think that there were no changes of you from the past, look at yourself... maybe your presence is far from His presence... maybe you don't seek for His love and protection. So what will you do, pray, meditate and read His Word. And I tell you there's gotta be more than that.

Sing For His Love

Written on December 10, 2006

So I'll sing a love song to You...


When was the last time you've sung a song for the Lord? When was the time that you actually realized that you cannot live without worshiping and serving for His Kingdom? When was the time you have thought that even in the midst of trial, you can still praise His Name?


Sometimes I'm running out of words to say. Sometimes I do not know what I am writing. Sometimes numbness just came in my way and in the end, I do not know what I am writing. Because of so many things that are running through my mind, I really don't know what I was doing. Apostle Paul have written in the letter to the Romans that he is doing what he don't want to do and yet he is not doing what is the right thing to do. Paul, one of the faithful servants of God had actually written that thing and sometimes it made me think that he is not really that strong.. he just becomes stronger because of the strength that he received from God (Phil.4:13).


It's like a battle...


It's like a war...


But it is a battle and a war within our ownselves. We are struggling for the things that our own flesh wants to do and we are having a hard time to balance between what is wrong and what is right. We do not know what to do. We are hopeless. We are incapable. We are struggling from good and evil. And it's up to us if we want to fight or loose for that battle within our ownselves.


But one thing is for sure...


God made us stronger. Because of His mercy and grace, we are able to do what is right and we can fight against the evil. In our ownselves, we cannot do nothing. We are like a filthy rag that can easily be trampled. But the goodness of God is always within us. No matter how bad we are... no matter how incapable our ability may have... we can still face and fight the battle. We can stand still and sing for His glory...for His Kingdom...for His Name. We can sing of His Love Forever. ^_^

Lost

This is the topic that I discussed at Reflectors Unleashed held last October 19, 2008 at Lyceum Institute of Technology (Now Lyceum of the Philippines Laguna).

What comes first in your mind when you heard the word LOST? As a matter of fact, in our personal life, we don't want to talk about it. Because its all negative... failure, rejection, vanished... no longer in existence.

So what most people do is to think positive... They do what is the opposite... To gain something, to be succesful, to be able to go to the top... in short to find life (in their own knowledge)

But what does the Bible say in Matthew 10:39.

Unknowingly, when we are so much blessed, we never thank the One who gave that blessing. But when we are in the middle of problems, instead of leaning on to Him, we blame Him. Why? Because we focus more on how to gain life by our own. Because we thought we knew what's good for us.

God promised us in Jeremiah 29:11, and yet we rely on our own plan. Jesus said, "Those who lose their life for My sake will gain it."

Do we need to kill ourselves literally and say in our last word, "Lord this life is for You."

Not at all.

That's why it's called unleashed! You have to let go. You have to release something in order for you to lose your life and gain Christ. Let go of your own knowledge. Rely on His Word. Release all Your heart ache, your pain, your bitterness and be completely lost!

L - ive
O - utside
S - atan's
T - erritory

Satan's Territory is the world itself. Full of sins.. deception.

But God said that we are not be forever living in this world. Because our true world is not in here but with Jesus Christ who is in Heaven.

To God be the Glory!