Relationship with God vs Religion

I was listening to the preaching of a pastor in a church I attended last week. Since it's Holy week, the theme is all about Christ's death and resurrection.

I was reminded that Jesus died on the cross to take away my sins and the rest of the people in the world. And His death and resurrection became a way to have a personal and intimate relationship with the Lord. The pastor differentiate the difference between religion and relationship. Religion is doing something for God to get right with God while relationship is the attempt of God to reach to man. Relationship with God means putting our faith on what He has done to us on the cross 2000 years ago.

Religion only restraints an old habit or bad attitude that we had before. But the authentic relationship with God will produce a radical, life-changing results. This is quite simple to differentiate the people who are genuinely following Jesus Christ. If I will have to evaluate myself, I need to start asking myself bout how often do I communicate with the Lord. I need to evaluate with the kind of life that I have right now.

There are things that I really missed in my Christian life. I always underestimate the value of my personal relationship with God and I was focused on doing something. I never seen the pastor preach with passion and intensity until today. And I know I need to go back to what is basic. The importance of Jesus Christ's death and resurrection and my personal relationship with Him.

I do not need to do something for the Lord just to earn His approval. He did the initiative when He died on the cross. Am very thankful because Jesus Christ lay down His life for me.  

Dependence on God in Wilderness

It's been few months since I left my comfort zone in hometown. Unfortunately, I need to leave everything including my work, my friends and students, my family, and the children ministry that I started. I am not worried if I go to Manila. But deep in my heart I keep on asking God why do I have to leave this early? Am not yet finished with my bible school and my post graduate education. I have a little children ministry to lead in Baao and I need to guide the students that I lead to Christ.

 I was left in complete bewilderment. I lost my job and my family did suffer from the upsurge of financial crisis. We almost go for hunger strike because we're on a tedious shoe-string budget. We all experienced eating once a day and I declare that will be the last time we will experience this kind of suffering.
I was so fortunate enough that I was able to go here in Manila. I never know what future lies here but I trust that God will never leave me alone and that He will supply all my needs according to His glorious richness.

After few months, God  provided me a job that allows me to support myself, my family, as well as the church that I belong to. Then I left my job because it's compromising my health.

Yeah I know, that somewhere in the middle, I keep on running the race with a cloud of doubt inside my head. Where am i going? I wonder if God know what He is doing in my life. I was left in the battle unguarded and unarmed because I refuse to use my weapons to fight. I felt like I was a boat without a sailor in a wide stormy ocean. I was baffled with my frustrations and disappointments in my life. It seems I was trapped and there's no way I can find my way out.

I may be in a wilderness right now. I may not be able to know what's going to happen with me in Manila. But I know that I have a Mighty God whom I can trust with all my heart. I may not be able to figure out what's the purpose why is He allowing this to happen in my life. But I know later it's gonna make sense. The only thing i know right now is that, I can depend on God in times like this.

He is the only refuge I have. There's nothing else that matters to me except to be with Him. To be dependent on Him every single day of my life. I know that God wants me to trust Him in times like this... No worries because I know that in His time, He will make all things beautiful.