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!

I Asked

I wrote this short article when I was in college. I just want to re post it here and to share God's message as well. Enjoy reading..

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I Asked

When I was a child, I was a bully.

I was happy when I see someone cry.

And then I saw a man.

He was staring straight at me.

I also stared at Him.

I asked,

"Who are You?"

He looked to me and said,

"I am your Lord, I love you and I want you to be with Me in Heaven."

I began to grow old.

I went to school.

I always cheat and lie.

And then I saw a man.

He was staring straight at me.

I asked,

"Why are You always here? I'm so bad and I don't need You. Who are You?"

He looked and said,

"I am your Lord. I died on the cross because of you and I want you to be with Me in Heaven."

I didn't believe what the man said.

I grew older.

I finished my studies.

I had the job that I want.

I still cheat and lie.

And then I saw the man who said He is a Lord.

I stared at Him.

I asked,

"Do you still love me even if I cheat and lie to others? I am a sinner and I don't deserve to be with You."

He looked and said,

"If you only believe and confess, you will realize that I still love you. I want you to be with Me in Heaven."

Time went by.

I started to build my own family.

But it didn't work out.

And then I saw the man who said He is a Lord.

I stared at Him.

I asked,

"You said you are Lord, You said that You love me but what did You do to me? My life became miserable."

He looked to me and said,

"You are suffering for the consequences that you have made. You are suffering because you do not believe that I love you and I want you to be with Me in Heaven."

I grew much older.

My body became weak.

I was pale.

I knew that my life would end soon.

But there is something missing that I want to find.

I saw the Lord standing in front of me.

I remembered all the things that I did. I was so naive to understand that every time I do something, He was always there for me. Even if I was on the peak of my triumph or on the edge of falling out, He was always there for me.

I stared at Him intently.

My eyes became wet.

He is my Lord.

He is my Savior.

He is the One I'm searching for so long even though I know that He is always there for me.

I stared at Him for the second time.

And said,

"Lord, I truly believe in You. I don't know how could I thank You for loving me so deeply. I believe that You died on the cross for my sins and came back to life to save me. I accept You now as my personal Savior."

And I asked,

"Lord, would you forgive me for everything that I have done? I am so sorry."

And I sobbed.

He looked to me and said,

"That is My grace My child. Even if you sin, I will still love you. Even if you never did what I want you to do, only if you confess and promise that you will turn back from your sins, I will still love you."

He stretched his arms to me.

I saw his nail-pierced hands.

"My child, I now forgive you. From now on, you will be with me in Heaven."

My friend, would you still wait to grow old just to realize that there is Someone who will love you more than anyone here on Earth? Don't waste your life. Jesus loves you so much!

Understanding Change

This was the topic a while ago during the worship service in our church. It was delivered by one of the great servants of God and who is very anointed with His Holy Spirit. I was really delighted by God's message and I can't wait to share.

The whole message was really simple.

Change.

He elaborated this in the passage about the story of Zaccheus. I am sure that most of us know his story and how he radically changed from being a cheater into a believer and became a follower of Jesus Christ. He did not care what the people might say to him, he did not care about his status in life. He did not care whether he was a very small man. All he cared that time was to see Jesus, to confess that He sinful, to believe in Him and to follow Him.

And he made the right decision. Jesus knew him from the very start. Jesus did not care about his past but he cared for his heart. Jesus knew what's inside his heart that He even called him by his name and went to his house and shared food with him.

That very wonderful moment... Zaccheus changed.

In the message, the preacher elaborated also the types of change. If it is gradual, radical or crises change. Gradual change is a slow but continuous process of change while radical is a sudden change that happened almost in an instant and crises is the change wherein the growth sometimes go high and sometimes go down.

If I would ask you right now... what type of change happened to you?

You and God know the answer.

In our life there are many changes that happened. Sometimes we do not know that this is happening so fast that we don't want to end and sometimes it happens very seldom that we want more change. What I learn in this message is that change is inevitable and you have to be prepared for that. Whatever happens, God will be with you all through out. He will change you the way He changed Zaccheus only if you let Him to enter into your house.

Be amazed and be changed by our Perfect God.

Perfect People

In times of confusion, in times of depression, in times of mistakes, most people say that we are not perfect. Yes this is very true.. From the very beginning, that our parents have sinned to God. That very moment, they became imperfect and will forever be imperfect. But because of the love that God showed to us, He, as a Perfect God, gave His Son just to cleanse our sins and for us to become righteous at the His sight. Since it is very impossible for an imperfect person to face a Perfect God, we were able to feel His presence because of a sinless human and who is a perfect Son. He is Jesus Christ.

While contemplating at His Words, I was also inspired by the message that God gave to me by hearing a song entitled, Perfect People. And with this, even if I am not perfect, I know there is Someone Who is Perfect enough to forgive me, to hug me and to show His love for me.

This is the lyrics of the song sung by a Christian artist, Natalie Grant:

Never let 'em see you when you're breaking
Never let 'em see you when you fall
That's how we live and that's how we try
Tell the world you've got it all together
Never let them see what's underneath
Cover it up with a crooked smile
But it only lasts for a little while

[CHORUS:]
There's no such thing as perfect people
There's no such thing as a perfect life
So come as you are, broken and scarred
Lift up your heart and be amazed
And be changed by a perfect God

Suddenly it's like a weight is lifted
When you hear the words that you are loved
He knows where you are and where you've been
And you never have to go there again

[CHORUS]

Who lived and died to give new life
To heal our imperfections
So look up and see love. Let grace be enough

[CHORUS]

By a perfect God [5x]

Be changed by a perfect God
Be changed




To God be the Glory forever!