Faith & Patience

It is easier to choose doing overwhelming task than to wait. What if God is says you need to wait & have faith that all you desire according to His plan will come to pass? 

God’s clock is not the same as ours, nor will His time frame synchronize ours. When we can no longer wait and our patience runs weary, it is our usual inclination to do things on our own and forgot that God has a better plan. He is a builder, not a magician. And He cannot compromise His own timing just because His child can no longer wait. 

We have different desires and most of us would like to have them as fast as high speed internet. We might realize that we have waited long enough for the person we wish to marry, or a job or position we wish to have in a company, or might be a simple gadget like ipod or laptop--- but God is insisting it’s not yet the right time. What we will do? Are we going to force things on our own way and neglect God’s message? 

Remember when God teaches us to do something; it is not for Him but for us. Everything He does or anything He allows to happen has a purpose. God does not have a business of explaining why he’s doing that. We just cannot question God why he’s doing that. He is all-knowing and no amount of human reasons would ever … 

It’s not easy to wait. We humans are naturally impatient. But let’s take the examples of great names of the Bible who waited in patience & trust in God and they were greatly blessed. Abraham waited for 15 years before God gave him Isaac only to be commanded God would need Isaac as his offering. David waited for many years too before he became a great king. 

Are we on the stages of waiting right now? We all do... How long? We cannot determine how long we have been waiting. God waited 33 years before he allowed Jesus to minister & fulfill His mission. But we need to wait and trust God that whatever happens, God will execute and finish His plans.

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.

Running the Race with Perseverance

The life of Christ’s servant will never be the same since you accepted the challenge of responding to the Great Commission. How I wish I can just go back to where I was before, where I am just a baby, waiting to be fed everyday. However, this is no longer the case.  I received Christ three years ago through my friend i met in our former company. Since then, my life is never the same before.  This page is not enough to elaborate the efforts of His love and grace showered upon me.

Now, it’s my time to return the favor. This is just the result of my salvation in Christ. Sharing the gospel and responding to the Great Commission. When we’re pressed down with problems and all hell breaks loose, we might lose balance and keep out of His track.

It is easy to praise God when we are happy. It is easy to thank Him when blessings are pouring in our laps. It is easy to serve Him when there are no obstacles and difficulties. It is easy to cling on to His word when the provisions are abundant. It is easy to stay in faith with a fine weather. And it is more motivating to share the love of the Lord if you have more people to listen to you.

It’s pretty normal when more people will refuse your invitation. But I don’t know I am still feel frustrated when they decline. There are so many obstacles are are trying to hinder my way. How will I try to share the gospel when people are more focused on other stuff.... Today, it is a challenge for every Christian to deal with distractions such as media, technology, even work and education. True enough.

I am not saying education and work are bad but they are often used as Satan’s tactic to draw us away from hearing the gospel. In spite of these difficulties, God is teaching me to run the race with perseverance. I have my personal inner struggles too and I have to admit it’s causing trouble for me. Yet it is a calling for me to keep on moving, to persevere no matter how difficult it is for me.

Remember, Jesus Christ is the author and finisher of our faith (Hebrews 12:2). He will brought His workmanship to a completion if we don’t get tired and grow weary. (Philippians 1:6, Galatians 10:6)...

It's all About Love, Love, Love!!!!

I am happy and quite satisfied with the student's evaluation..It's more than I ever expected though I know I have so many things to work in my attitude.. I don't mean to brag but teaching is my natural skill.. It's inculcated in every fiber of my veins and there's no left to blame but my gene pool. Oh yeah! I wonder how many times I read the term, "the best" and it's really a good boost on my esteem.

Yet deep down inside of me, Someone is whispering, reminding me that I should learn how to love... Being a teacher is not easy. It will really demand your time and dedication. There are times I am teaching for the sake of my work, forgetting what I am here for. I thank the grace of God for reminding me again about love... The performance evaluation is no more than a piece of paper if I don't have passion for teaching. And worst, if I don't have love for my students.

Love is my fuel to keep things going when the going gets tough. Love is the pumping blood when stress saps my whole strength. It is the only thing that gives me reason not to quit.

My Heart's Cry for Love

There are life circumstances that might overwhelm us--- leaving us bitter, confused, and disappointed. But this is the right time I need to trust God... There are things that I need to end and let go, knowing that it's not meant for you... If God will take a look of my heart, it's marred with wounds and scars. Only the alchemy of grace and love can heal this and stop it from hurting.

I felt neglected and rejected... I felt I am not accepted for who I am...Yeah I am badly broken but this hurt reminds me that I should learn how to put love into practice... Paul stresses in 1 Corinthians 13:1-7 the characteristics of love. And if I fail in some aspects, my love is not yet fully developed. I realize that nothing harder to do than to show my love in times of my brokenness. I need to show my love to other people by showing I care for them. I need to forgive those people who don't care to hurt me. I need to accept them in their weaknesses.

Maybe I badly need some love. But no!  I need to show my love to other people. God showed His genuine love for me. How come I can't show it? It's not only about me, me, and me... It's about others. But I don't think I can make it without God's healing embrace. His grace is enough for me to love others in spite of my down moments...

God-size Dreams Inside Me

Many times I prayed to God to make me productive and fruitful in His vineyard. But I realized that it takes to step on my faith everyday to make my dreams come to pass everyday. God has promised everything in His word. All I need to do is to believe and claim His promises. Most of the time, I was hindered by my doubt and fear, thinking of my weaknesses and inadequacies. Deep inside I felt so insecure-- neglecting that the Spirit of God is living in me.

God promised me His word

1 John 5:4 For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith

.... Claiming God's word is more than just believing it.. I have to boldly climb on my faith.. I have to act now make God's dreams a reality. I need to press forward and refuse to be defeated by my fear and doubts. I believe that God has stored the promise of victory in me. I need to keep believing, keep pressing on, keep hoping, and keep holding on to His word.