Give God Your Best

God shaped you for a purpose and he expects you to make the most of what you've been given. He doesn't want you to worry about or covet abilities that you don't have. Instead he wants you to focus on talents he has given you to use. When you attempt to serve God in ways that you're not shaped to serve, it feels like forcing a square peg into a round hole. It's frustrating and produces limited results. It also wastes your time, talent, and energy. The best use of your life is to serve God out of your shape (the gifts and abilities God has given you). To do this you must discover your shape, learn to accept and enjoy it, and then develop it to its fullest potential. The Bible says, "Don't act thoughtlessly, but understand what the Lord wants you to do." (Ephesians 5:17 NLT) Don't let another day go by. Start finding out and clarifying what God intends for you to be and do. Begin by assessing your gifts and abilities. Take a long, honest look at what you are good at and what you're not good at. Make a list. Ask other people for their candid opinion. Tell them you're searching for the truth, not fishing for a compliment. Ask questions like these: Where have I seen fruit in my life that other people confirmed? Where have I already been successful? "Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is." (Ephesians 5:17 NIV) From: Rick Warren's Daily Devotional

Relax In My Peaceful Presence

"Do not bring performance pressures into our sacred space of communion. When you are with someone you trust completely, you feel free to be yourself. This is one of the joys of true friendship. Though I am the Lord of lords and King of kings, I also desire to be your intimate friend. When you are tense or pretentious in our relationship, I feel hurt. I know the worst about you, but I also see the best in you. I long for you to trust Me enough to be fully yourself with Me. When you are real with Me, I am able to bring out the best in you: the very gifts I have planted in your soul. Relax and enjoy our friendship."

Love,
Jesus

Revelation 17:14
"They will wage war against the Lamb, but the Lamb will triumph over them because he is Lord of lords and King of kings —and with him will be his called, chosen and faithful followers.”

John 15:13-15
"Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you."

Car Accident

I was on my way to our ministry house from a friend's house 9:30 this morning, driving on a two-way street, speed at around 35-40 miles/hour. It was a beautiful sunny Sunday - blue skies, weather was not so hot, the streets were clear, very calm and quiet,  and I barely see any other motorist in front or back. I was just enjoying my drive while listening to my favorite Christian radio station K-Love. Praying and talking to God while driving is just part of my daily driving experience. I was thanking the Lord for this beautiful day as I always do and I was looking forward to another Sunday service, to sing and play music, to worship and thank Him. 

But suddenly, the "enemy" just couldn't stand the scene. He found one guy on a Jeep Wrangler to use as his instrument to ruin a simply beautiful day. I was driving on the left lane (close to the center lane), the guy, middle-aged white man, was coming out from a CVS pharmacy parking lot (on my right). Probably the "enemy" put in his mind an idea that "Hey, there is no traffic, the street is clear, and you are in a hurry. Turn Left! Now!!!" Probably he didn't look at his left side to see if there was a coming motorist before he floored the gas. I saw him coming so fast towards me, and it was too late for me to hit the brakes. Good thing I didn't because if I did, I could have been the one collided to the side of his car head on. I tried to avoid him by going to the center lane. But then I already realized it was inevitable, he's going to hit me. In a split second, all I could do was cry out to God and trusted He was in control. Next thing I heard was a deafening thud, then I felt myself instantly being pulled to the right and then pushed to left, then up and down, I saw broken glasses from the right side windows flying towards me, I couldn't do anything more but close my eyes and pray.  

Few seconds later, it was so quiet, then I opened my eyes and noticed I was touching as if to shield my right side ribs, they hurt probably because of the seat belt. Then I saw this man came out from the Jeep Wrangler, peeked through my window and asked if I was okay. I was in shock, I couldn't speak right away, I felt my entire body was shaking, I tried to talk but all I heard at first was low mumbling sounds. Then I heard him called emergency. A civilian guy stopped on the other side of the street, walked toward me, introduced himself and said he was a doctor. He asked me if I feel any pain or anything, before I could even answer him, another civilian lady stopped in front of my car, introduced herself, another doctor. And I said to myself, "Wow! Thank you Lord for sending these people instantly!" I checked myself, touching different parts of my body to see if I feel any broken bone or whatsoever. Good thing there was no upcoming traffic or else I could have been hit both sides, and it could have been worse. I was still shaking but I guess there was a rush of adrenaline that surprisingly I wasn't feeling any pain anymore. I said, "I don't know...I think I am fine."

Few minutes later, ambulance and cops arrived. Interviewed me, checked my vitals but I refused to be taken to the hospital because I thought, hey I was okay. I went out of my car, filled out some papers. I lasted about an hour under the heat of the sun, surprisingly, since I know myself I could barely stay out, with no shade, during the heat of AZ summer, waiting for the towing service to arrive, answering to cops' questions, calling a few people....then it was over.

An hour after the accident, maybe adrenaline wore off, I started to feel pain on my neck and shoulders and back, my arms and  legs became so heavy, headache slowly coming in, feeling sensory disturbance on my arms and legs, I started seeing little halos at my right peripheral view, typical whiplash signs and symptoms, so I decided to be brought to the ER and be seen. They did some tests. Thank God, aside from bruises, cuts and body pains, and headache, I didn't suffer from any other major things like broken bones and whatsoever. I was only given tetanus shot and some pain killers, but still I was advised to watch for any other symptoms of other conditions that may arise from few days to few months after the accident, and whiplash injuries vary from simple to serious. And if it happens (God forbid), I should and I WILL go back to my doctor to be sure I'll be okay.

I came home few hours later, so tired, so hungry and so heavy, but I still managed to answer texts and calls from concerned friends and relatives, then after that I was able to sleep. I woke up feeling a bit worse, headache, body pains especially neck, shoulders and back worsen. Right now, I feel like I'm catching flu. I hope and pray that sooner I will be fine and it's nothing serious.

I am just so thankful to God that I'm safe at home now. He has shielded me from serious injuries. I know angels have wrapped their wings around me because I didn't get any cuts on my face or eyes despite all the broken glasses. To all those who emailed, texted and called me, to those who have breathed a prayer for me, "THANK YOU SO MUCH!"

Here are some photos:

Psalm 91

He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High

will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.

I will say to the LORD, “My refuge and my fortress,

my God, in whom I trust.”

For he will deliver you from the snare of the fowler

and from the deadly pestilence.

He will cover you with his pinions,

and under his wings you will find refuge;

his faithfulness is a shield and buckler.

You will not fear the terror of the night,

nor the arrow that flies by day,

nor the pestilence that stalks in darkness,

nor the destruction that wastes at noonday.

A thousand may fall at your side,

ten thousand at your right hand,

but it will not come near you.

You will only look with your eyes

and see the recompense of the wicked.

Because you have made the LORD your dwelling place—

the Most High, who is my refuge—

no evil shall be allowed to befall you,

no plague come near your tent.

For he will command his angels concerning you

to guard you in all your ways.

On their hands they will bear you up,

lest you strike your foot against a stone.

You will tread on the lion and the adder;

the young lion and the serpent you will trample underfoot.

“Because he holds fast to me in love, I will deliver him;

I will protect him, because he knows my name.

When he calls to me, I will answer him;

I will be with him in trouble;

I will rescue him and honor him.

With long life I will satisfy him

and show him my salvation.”

Fruit Of The Spirit

If what's inside a person is good, then the fruit of that person's life will be good. But if what's inside is rotten, the fruit of that person's life will be bad. Any person who has received Jesus as Savior and Lord and has Christ living within will bear good fruit--the "fruit of righteousness" (Philippians 1:11)--as God shines forth in his or her life.

The fruit of the Spirit has been described as "those gracious habits which the Holy Spirit produces in the Christian." In Galatians 5:22-23, the apostle Paul lists these "gracious habits": "The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness , self-control." I'm sure that, like me, you've undoubtedly longed for these noble traits to be characterisitc of your life--but how can we make that happen? "Perhaps if I just try harder..." we may find ourselves thinking. But Jesus teaches and models that such individual, do-it-yourself effort isn't the answer. Instead, it's exciting and comforting to realize that the fruit of the Spirit can be produced in our lives in the same way that it was produced in Jesus' life. We will enjoy a harvest of spirituality when we yield to God and allow His Spirit to work in us as we walk through life.

As you and I walk together through God's list of the fruit He deserves in our life, we'll look not only on their beauty and bounty but also at each individual fruit. But we must never forget that all nine fruits stand together. None of them can be missing, and all must be evident to be God's fruit. All of the these fruits act as one, they are borne in our lives in the same way. Everything that is said of one characteristic is true of the eight. They are one and the same fruit, interwoven and related to one another, produced as we look to God.

Paul called believers to "walk by the Spirit" and since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit, (Galatians 5:16,25), then we would be abiding by the Law in a natural and beautiful way.

God's Joy

Jesus desired that our joy might be full (John 16:24), but the affliction, loss, stress, and pain can too easily rob us of any sense of joy. But, when we turn our gaze upon God in the midst of suffering, we suddenly find the power we need to praise Him despite the pain and to give thanks for His goodness...even when things are not so good. Thanks to working of His Spirit in us, you and I can experience joy that transcends circumstances and transforms something traumatic into something truly lovely.

Share God's Love

"God's love is there for us to give, and we who follow Christ need to remember that those who are hardest to love are the ones who need it most."

Comfort From the Good Shepherd

"Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me." Psalms 23:4

As a child of God you are never alone! Your Shepherd is with you at all times. You never have to call Him in to your situation. You never have to wonder where He is. You never have to fear that if things become too difficult, He will abandon you. He goes before you; He walks beside you; He comes behind you. He protects you securely. Just as He sees every sparrow and knows every hair that is on your head, so His gaze is constantly upon you (Luke 12:6-7). Even when you cannot see Him, He always keeps His eyes upon you. He comforts you with His strong presence in times of sorrow and grief. He leads you through the valley of the shadow of death. He does not necessarily lead you around the valley as you might wish. There are times when your Shepherd knows that the only way to get you where He wants to take you is to lead you down the path that passes through the dark valley. Yet, at those times He walks closely with you, reassuring you throughout the journey that He still loves you and is with you. It is during those times that you experience His love and compassion in a deeper dimension than you ever have before.

You never need to fear evil. As intimidating as evil can be, there is nothing you will ever face that intimidates your Shepherd. He has seen it all and soundly defeated every form of wickedness. Evil never catches Him by surprise. Your Shepherd is always prepared and knows exactly when and where you will experience difficulty. Place your absolute trust in your Good Shepherd that He will protect you and demonstrate His love for you through the darkest valley.

Pleasure or God?

Why is it so tempting to love pleasure (anything that hinders you from having quality time and personal relationship with God, or worse, directly disobeying God's will - it could be habits, things you have, things you do and not do, it could even be your work or even someone) rather than love God? Pleasure is something we can control; God cannot be controlled. Most pleasures can be obtained easily; love for God requires effort and sometimes sacrifice. Pleasure benefits us now; the benefits of loving God are often in the future. Pleasure has a narcotic effect; it takes our minds off ourselves and our problems. Love for God reminds us of our needs and our responsiblities. Pleasure cooperates with pride. It makes us feel good when we look good in the eyes of others. To love God we must lay aside our pride and our accomplishments. Have you chosen to love pleasure, or to love God?

Strange Day

Strange! I got lost somewhere in a scary neighborhood even if I put in the right address in my navigation system but somehow it said I have arrived at my destination but it wasn't the right place...I tried it again, I just ended up getting lost and had to stop twice to ask for directions. And I thought I heard some crackling sound underneath my car and had to stop again to check it but there was nothing. I got so scared when I saw people staring at me. I was praying inside my car while driving the whole time. I'm just so glad I got back home safe and sound.

"Thank You Lord!"

Do Not Forget The LORD

Deuteronomy 8

 1 Be careful to follow every command I am giving you today, so that you may live and increase and may enter and possess the land the LORD promised on oath to your ancestors. 2 Remember how the LORD your God led you all the way in the wilderness these forty years, to humble and test you in order to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep his commands. 3 He humbled you, causing you to hunger and then feeding you with manna, which neither you nor your ancestors had known, to teach you that man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the LORD. 4 Your clothes did not wear out and your feet did not swell during these forty years. 5 Know then in your heart that as a man disciplines his son, so the LORD your God disciplines you.

6 Observe the commands of the LORD your God, walking in obedience to him and revering him. 7 For the LORD your God is bringing you into a good land—a land with brooks, streams, and deep springs gushing out into the valleys and hills; 8 a land with wheat and barley, vines and fig trees, pomegranates, olive oil and honey; 9 a land where bread will not be scarce and you will lack nothing; a land where the rocks are iron and you can dig copper out of the hills.

 10 When you have eaten and are satisfied, praise the LORD your God for the good land he has given you. 11 Be careful that you do not forget the LORD your God, failing to observe his commands, his laws and his decrees that I am giving you this day. 12 Otherwise, when you eat and are satisfied, when you build fine houses and settle down, 13 and when your herds and flocks grow large and your silver and gold increase and all you have is multiplied, 14 then your heart will become proud and you will forget the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. 15 He led you through the vast and dreadful wilderness, that thirsty and waterless land, with its venomous snakes and scorpions. He brought you water out of hard rock. 16 He gave you manna to eat in the wilderness, something your ancestors had never known, to humble and test you so that in the end it might go well with you. 17 You may say to yourself, “My power and the strength of my hands have produced this wealth for me.” 18 But remember the LORD your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth, and so confirms his covenant, which he swore to your ancestors, as it is today.

 19 If you ever forget the LORD your God and follow other gods and worship and bow down to them, I testify against you today that you will surely be destroyed. 20 Like the nations the LORD destroyed before you, so you will be destroyed for not obeying the LORD your God.

Breathe (cover)

My cover song of "Breathe" by Michael W. Smith using an iPad app called GarageBand. Well, it's not close to the original but I'm just showing how GarageBand is very useful when you don't have any musical instruments or when you're alone with only a guitar available but you wanted to sing that sounds like with a complete band accompaniment.

Good Grief ➡ Upward Call

The father of a good friend of mine just recently passed away. Anybody who experienced losing someone whom he/she truly loved would agree that it is very hard to accept. It is painful. Much more when it happens during Christmas season. I too have recently lost my dad. I left home to go here in the US few years ago, kind of sad because I'll be away from my love ones for a long time, but I also carried with me the hope of a good future and that one day we'll be spending happy times again together. My parents were the ones most sad when I left but they too were looking forward to a better future. We all thought, "Ah, what's few years? We will still see each other again." But we were wrong. The last time I saw my dad alive was when I left my hometown years ago. I never even get the chance to do the things I planned to do for him with my mom when I get back, or when they come here. We didn't even get the chance to say goodbye. His passing was instantaneous. You can only imagine how painful it was for me and my family. No words could describe.

But I thank God He put it in my heart to always say, "I love you Pa," whenever we talked on the phone. Our family isn't used to saying those words but I know we all love each other. I remember how Papa would just smile (by the sound of his voice) every time I say those words but I know he loved all of us his children so much. But few months before he passed away, I have asked him to say those same words back. It felt really good. Always made me cry whenever I heard him say it. Tears of so much joy as well as longing to hug him, wishing US and Philippines were just a minute away.

Losing job, terminal illness, family breaking apart, calamity, tragedy, death of a loved one, being left behind, or any other similar hurtful events one could experience, these are what we call "bad" times, difficult times. They could cause one so much grief that sometimes it continues for a long time, even to the point of crushing us down, giving us no way back up, making us feel alone and helpless. Even worse, question God, "Why?"

Hard times are hard, but they can also be helpful. Remember when Joseph was sold to Egypt by his brothers. Years later, when he became Prime Minister of Egypt, he had saved many people's lives during a long famine. He told his brothers, "You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good" (Genesis 50:20). God the Son (Jesus Christ) had to suffer and die on the cross. Humanity intended to harm (kill) Him but God intended it for good. He made the way, or most appropriately, He, Jesus Christ, is the way to eternal life (John 14:6).

Many Christians (in Biblical and contemporary times alike) have experienced reversal of seeming adversity to become evident blessing. That's the point of Ecclesiastes 7:1-10. Why did Solomon say, "The day of death [is] better than the day of birth" and that it's "better to go to a house of mourning than to go to a house of feasting", and why did he declare that "sorrow is better than laughter" (Ecclesiastes 7:1-3)? Adversity isn't always a sign of God's disfavor. More spiritual lessons are learned during hardships, trials and sufferings. Paul said in Romans 5:3-4, "...but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope." "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth." (Matthew 5:3-5)

Surely you don't want to wait to experience adversity before coming to know the giver of hope and comfort. If you experience good times, then rejoice in God's blessings. Don't forget to praise and thank Him. If you experience bad times, learn from God's lessons. Afterall, life is a continuous lesson. We are taught to become like Christ. Focus on the things above, "...forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 3:13,14).

What Happens Next?

What do you think your answers will be when someone asked you these questions: What is your ultimate goal in life? Is it a job promotion? A big house with swimming pool? A fancy car? To become a millionaire? To be debt-free? To be able to travel the world? To get married and have kids? What if you achieved all those? What happens next? Would that be all and everything there is about living? Are these the reasons why you're here in the first place? What is really the utmost purpose of your existence?

Think about it...

Too Busy With Work?

No one ever said on their deathbed: "I wish I would have spent more time at work!"

It's not work that makes a person, but rather, relationships...with people (family, friends even strangers), but most importantly, with Jesus. (‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’ ~ Matthew 25:40)

Are you too busy with work or any other things and forgetting what's more important in life? Have you ever tried to ask yourself what to answer when finally, one day, you will have to stand before God and He will ask you, "What have you done with the life I have given you? What did you do with the people I have surrounded you with? What did you do with my Son whom I sent to save you?"

After we answered, surely, we would want to hear Him say, "Well done! Good and faithful servant....come and share your Master's happiness." (Matthew 25:23)

But, will we?

1st Day of 2012

It's 10:45 pm, I still have few minutes left before it's the second day of 2012. I just thought maybe it's the best time to revive my interest in writing and blogging again as I have not been able to write here for a few months now.

There's no better way to start the new year than praising God! Good thing the 1st day of this year fell on a Sunday; be at church, sang for the Lord, praised and thanked Him for the past year. Although 2011 was a year of trials, pains, brokenness, loss, and death of a love one, God has proven Himself faithful once again to fulfill in my life His promises that "He will never leave us nor forsake us" and that "in all things (this includes even the hurtful and injurious ones), God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to his purpose." Rom. 8:28

During my times of needs, he provided, in times of sorrow, He became my joy, in weakness, He became my strength, in times of despair, my hope is in Him. God has continued to shower me with blessings of true friends, and our family became closer. But most of all, He has instilled in me the passion, longing and need to search and know Him deeper, along with the joy and eagerness to share the goodness of the Lord unto others.

Last year was also the advent of putting my musical (primarily instrumental) gifts into where they are truly being used for God's greater honor and glory. I know eversince I was little, I love singing, and then later, during the early years of my adult life, I have become so interested to learn to play different kinds of musical instruments that I even strived to teach myself how but I never had the slightest dream of becoming a professional artist. I just like doing it for fun but never actually achieved sense of fulfillment. It didn't make sense. There must be a perfect reason why I have been given such gifts. Later I realized, those talents and gifts were not for myself nor for others, but for God's glory. Only then the singing and playing music gave fulfillment and true joy in my heart.

Happy New Year everyone! As the saying goes...new year, new beginning. Let it be the beginning of things good and pleasing to the Lord.