me and God
Monday, March 22, 2004
THAT'S GOD
Have you ever been just sitting there and all of a sudden you feel like doing something nice for someone you care for. . THAT'S GOD . . . He talks to you through the Holy Spirit.
Have you ever been down and out and nobody seems to be around for you to talk to. . .
THAT'S GOD . . . He wants you to talk to Him.
and then next thing you know you see them or receive a phone call from them. . .
THAT'S GOD . . . there is no such thing as coincidence.
Have you ever received something wonderful that you didn't even ask for, like money in the mail,
a debt that had mysteriously been cleared, or a coupon to a department store
where you had just seen something you wanted, but couldn't afford. . .
THAT'S GOD . . . He knows the desires of your heart.
Have you ever been in a situation and you had no clue how it is going to get better, but now you look back on it. . .
THAT'S GOD . . . He passes us through tribulation to see a brighter day. 
DO YOU THINK THAT THIS E-MAIL WAS ACCIDENTALLY SENT TO YOU?
NOPE!
I was thinking of You! Please pass this along and share the Power of God.
In all that we do, we should totally give HIM thanks and our blessings will continue to multiply.
This message was sent to me by a close friend so please pass it on to all of your good friends.
Keep this going for an eternity.
NOW THAT'S GOD!!!!!!!!
Don't tell GOD how big your storm is.
Tell the storm how BIG your GOD is!
Friday, March 19, 2004
Joy Stealers- Read Philippians 1:1-11
Why do many Christians fail to experience real joy, which is listed as a fruit of the Spirit in Galatians 5:22?
In his book, Laugh Again, Charles Swindoll suggested three common “joy stealers”- worry, stress, and fear. He defines worry as “ an inordinate anxiety about smething that may or may not occur. (and usaully it doesn’t) Stress, says the author, is “intense strain over a situation we cant change or control. (but God can) And fear, according to Swindoll, is a “dreadful uneasiness over danger, evil, or pain”. And it magnifies our problems.
Swindoll says that in order to resist these joy stealers we must experience the same confidence that Paul expressed in his latter to the Philippians. After giving thanks for the Philippian believers (1:3-5), the apostle assure tham that “He who had begum a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ” (v.6)
Whatever causes you to worry, stress and fear cannot untimately keep God from continuing His work in you. With this confidence we can begin each day knowing that He is in control. We can leave everything in His hand.
Resist those joy stealers by renewing your confidence in God each morning. Then relax and rejoice.
Although our joy will wane at time
From worry, stress and fear
Gos keeps on working in our heart
And tells us He is near- D De Hann
Happiness depends on happening:joy depends on Jesus
My article for WIRED summer 2004
Summer. It was always full of fun memories. I have been always grateful to be blessed enough to be free to choose to do whatever I want. I have always looked forward to it because it was purely relaxation and recreation.
A few years back, my perfect summer when be lying around in front of TV for hours on end. But I have realized that I have to be a little more productive (just a little), because time flies by and before you know it, the school year is back and you have not even a tinge of accomplishment over the past two months.
But my so-called quest to fill in the idle summer time turned out to be a series of life changing spiritual events. I have involved myself with church related activities. God has used this spread of free time to spend long quality time with Him.
Retreats and camps are on top of my list. More than the idea of a week away from home with your friends, having those late night talks and endless bonding time, it was my most vivid memory of how God touches and speaks to the young people. I myself in particular can testify about this. Yes, summer was my time of revival. I remember how my first trip to Caliraya for a three day retreat was the one that left me broken at the altar. Pastor Sur spoke the sermon( told you it was vivid). It would take me pages to tell you about my spiritual breakthroughs over the years. But in each and everytime I came back from such activities, I have always carried with me encounters with God much more than I have expected.
Vacation Bible School came in close second. For some, waking up early for two weeks and teaching kids in wherever venue available is not exactly the most inviting thought. But it was very rewarding. This time it was my turn to bless others and share with them the God that I know and love. It allowed me to meet children, some still I talk to and text with, and have with them conversations about God they probably never had. It required hard work, but it was all labor of love. I have climbed Mount Extreme, dove into Ocean Odessey, and discovered Treasures Unlimited. Different themes each year but still revolved over one goal: harvesting souls of God’s Kingdom.
This is my last summer. Next year I would be starting my clerkship at the hospital and kiss vacation bliss goodbye. I would miss being part of such events, because they marked great leaps of growth in my Christian life.
God has given the ICS young people opportunities like this to be drawn closer to the Lord. Seize it. It may seem to take up your precious couch potato time, but you’ll be singing a different tune once you jump into these church events. They were not created just to keep us entertained, but its God’s hand moving in your life, calling you at the time where you are available. That means there something great in store for you if you just let it happen. Don’t ignore it. I’m sure glad I didn’t
Tuesday, March 09, 2004
On letting go...
This was Pastor Abe's sermon last January 11, 2004. by some miracle i was able to take notes. sana d nya ako isue for plagirism. it was the perfect topic for me at that time. Grabe magbigay ng hints c God. hehe.
Yung mga verses sulat ko nlang if i have my bible with me na. in the meantime look it up yourself muna.
1. Let go of your wounds.
Read: Psalm 109:22, Psalm 37:8, Job 18:4
Notes:
people who have hurt you in the past will never hurt you again unless you let them by rehearsing the past over and over again
the past cant hurt you any more
what resentment means: reopening wounds, readministering pain by holding on to the memories
you cannot move on to the future if you keep on reliving the past
HOW DO LET GO OF YOUR WOUNDS?
"Get rid of all bitterness, no more hateful feelings of any sort. Instead...forgive one another, as God has forgiven you through Christ." Ephesians 4:31-32
"God heals the broken hearted, and bandages their wounds." Psalm 147: (il look it up, d ko mabasa sulat ko)
WE FORGIVE PEOPLE BECAUSE:
1. God says do it
2. God has forgiven you
3. It is the only way to let go of your pain- do it for your own benefit, because resentment will not hurt them, it hurts you
we have a God who is able to strengthen us (yey!!!)
God is waiting to give you that strength
2.LET GO OF YOUR WRONGS
WHY IS IT SO IMPT TO COME CLEAN?
1. Guilt disconnects you from God- Isaiah 59:2
2. It depresses you- Psalm 32:3
3. It dominates your mind- Psalm 51:3
CONFESSION: GOD, YOU WERE RIGHT!!!!!! I WAS WRONG...
read: John 1:9, Psalm 51:1-2, Job 14:17
Sunday, February 22, 2004
From InTouch by Charles Stanley Those who live to be salt and light in the world will make ripples of impact on the lives around them.
What do you see as the purpose for your life? Many people would say their purpose is to enjoy living or perhaps to be good to others. Others might feel they have some mission to fulfill. Some people have such difficult circumstances that they see survival as their main goal. Tragically, far too many people live without any real purpose, and what they accomplish has no lasting value whatsoever. Ask the same question of a believer who understands what the Christian life is all about, and the answer will be, "I'm living to fulfill God's plan for my life."
Think about how much God has invested in us. He has bestowed each of His children with specialized abilities and talents so that He can work in and through us to affect others and to deepen our own relationship with Him. He has a plan for every believer; when we discover what it is, we no longer waste time, effort, or finances—we begin to live life with a very clear and specific purpose. The Lord wants us to make a powerful impact on the people around us. In the fifth chapter of Matthew, He gives us the mandate: we are to be the salt of the earth and the light of the world. (verses 13-14)
What are the properties of salt? Not only does it flavor, preserve, and penetrate, but it affects everything it touches. The one thing that can ruin its flavor is the presence of impurities. In a similar way, our "saltiness"—namely, our impact and influence—is diminished by sin, which can cause our life to become tasteless, powerless, and ineffective.
The Word of God also tells us to be light. Referring to Himself, Jesus said, "While I am in the world, I am the Light of the world" (John 9:5). But now that He has gone to sit at the Father's right hand, His Spirit lives inside every believer, and we reflect His light to those in darkness around us. In other words, we are like the moon, which has no light of its own but reflects the sun: by our conversation, conduct, and character, we are the reflection of Christ dwelling within us.
What are the properties of light? It drives out darkness, points the way, warns of incoming dangers, and reveals what is there. Just as sin lessens our "flavor," it also reduces our light. It is like soot on a lantern globe—the more there is, the less light you can see. Sin does not suit believers because it diminishes our effectiveness and influence. Notice that Jesus did not say, "I suggest that you be salt and light"; He said, "You are the salt of the earth . . . you are the light of the world." In other words, you are to make an impact; people's lives are to be changed for good because Jesus Christ is living His life in you and through you.
It is evident from Scripture that Jesus did not intend for us to be salt and light in a sealed container. (Matthew 5:15-16) Rather, God designed us to have a circle of impact, similar to the effect of a pebble that is tossed into water—little rings appear and ripple outward, farther and farther until the water is finally calm again. Depending upon the size of the stone, there can be more ripples, extending a much greater distance.
Think about the kind of life Jesus had in mind for us to live. Should we content ourselves with being like grains of sand dropped into water, causing almost no ripples at all? No. We should prefer to be like a large stone or brick that causes significant waves of good in somebody's life.
How far and wide can a person's circle of impact reach? Let us look at a few biblical and modern-day examples. First of all, Jesus lived His life very quietly for thirty years. Then, when He began His public ministry, He had a gigantic effect upon human history. He did not cause just a ripple; His impact was like a tidal wave that circled the globe from the moment He came on the scene. And His influence will continue to affect the entire world until He returns and calls to climax all of creation.
Next, consider Saul of Tarsus. Standing in the midst of a crowd, he witnessed a man by the name of Stephen being stoned to death. As he watched, he heard Stephen crying out to Jesus and commending his spirit to Him. (Acts 7:59) After some time elapsed, Saul was struck by the same Son of God whom Stephen had addressed. As he lay on the ground, Saul found himself calling out, saying, "Who are You, Lord?" And he heard the reply, "I am Jesus whom you are persecuting" (Acts 9:5). After he was saved by the grace of God, Saul of Tarsus became Paul the apostle. It was as if God dropped a huge boulder into a calm sea. Paul began to travel with his friends throughout the Mediterranean world, establishing a little group here, discipling a gathering there, winning a few souls in this location or that. He sowed the world of his day with little churches that began to grow and influence lives. Two thousand years later, Paul's epistles, some of which were written in a prison cell, are still impacting us. I read them daily, and though I have been studying them for years and years, they continue to teach me fresh, new truths. It all goes back to one man who was standing on the periphery of a crowd, noticing a dying man talk to the Son of God.
Men and women today can likewise have a far-reaching influence. Not many people recognize the name of Henrietta Mears, who was the educational director of a church in California. Under her influence, however, over four hundred young people felt the call of God and began to serve the Lord. You probably know the names of two men whose lives she impacted. One of them is Bill Bright, who was so highly influenced by her that he began to win college students to Christ and disciple them. Then God gave him the vision that, if he could do this with a few individuals, he could do it with more. As a result, this one man established Campus Crusade for Christ, a ministry which has shared the Gospel with over two billion people. The organization has seen countless decisions for Christ and has impacted hundreds of thousands of young men and women to serve the Lord. Few people today have heard of Henrietta Mears, but the name Bill Bright is known all around the world. Through his life, Ms. Mears' little ripple became a global surge for the Gospel.
Another man powerfully affected by this Christian educator is Billy Graham, who said of Ms. Mears, "I doubt if any other woman outside my wife and mother has had such a marked influence [on my life]." Dr. Graham has preached to more people than any other individual ever has. He was one of God's premier evangelists for the twentieth century and continues to be an ambassador of hope in the twenty-first.
How God has used both of these men is absolutely immeasurable, and it can all be traced back to a woman's influence many years ago. The issue is not, Who was Henrietta Mears? The issue is, What kind of impact can one person have? Keep in mind that the men Ms. Mears influenced were not prominent at the time. It was her inspiration and testimony that had the effect of shaping their lives. You simply do not know the potential of your impact because you are not aware of everyone who is watching your life, listening to you, or hearing about you. Never underestimate your potential—God is the only one who can truly measure it.
Jesus told us that we are the salt of the earth and the light of the world. It is not a choice but a mandate to be a strong influence for good in the lives of people who are without Christ. We live in a world full of impurities, so we need to be salt and light, both of which make a difference wherever they are. That is exactly the reason Jesus chose to use these two words.
How do you affect the individuals with whom you come in contact? Does it make any difference at all that you have been present? When you walk away from people, are they left with something special they cannot quite explain? Is there something about your countenance or your handshake, something loving in your eyes that they sense but cannot quite figure out? Or, do you live your life in little concentric circles, like the grain of sand dropped into a lake, which does not make even a decent ripple?
Christians who live to fulfill God's purpose are not making tiny ripples; they make a meaningful impact on the people around them. Remember that God wants us to be salt and light. Salt—anything it touches changes. Light—wherever you shine it, the darkness flees. Be as salty as possible, as bright as you can be, so that the circle of your impact will carry the force of God's power.
Seven Ways to Perk Up Your Devotional Time
1. Study a topic of interest.
What are you dealing with in your life? Find a word or topic of
interest
and then search the Bible to see what it says about that particular
topic. Some Bibles have cross-references in the back that can help in
the search. How about studying topics like anger, love or heaven?
2. Study how God reveals Himself to us in the Bible.
One friend says that she likes to think of God as the perfect Dad. She
wrote down all of the qualities that she thought a perfect father
should
possess. Then she looked up verses in the Bible which demonstrate how
God is the perfect Father. This is one incredible aspect of God but
there are so many other ways that God reveals Himself and His character
to us.
3. Use a Bible-reading schedule.
Instead of randomly choosing a passage each time you read the Bible,
have a goal to read specific verses. This way you can watch your
progress.
4. Read an illustrated Bible.
An illustrated Bible can help you get a better grasp of what life was
like then, where people lived, and even what they wore.
5. Find a devotional book that can assist you in studying the Bible.
There are devotional books available for different ages.
6. Write down references while listening to the sermons at church.
Taking notes not only helps you concentrate on what the preacher is
saying, but is also gives helpful references for further study.
7. Memorize Bible verses.
A fun way to memorize Scripture is to turn verses into a song. My
sisters and I have pleasant memories of composing tune to some verses
that we memorized. We laughed so hard because our songs sounded
horrible, but we can still remember the verses to this day.
>From Gotta Know God! (Cool Talks on Hot Topics #4) by Anna Jaquith,
published by OMF Literature Inc. (2002).
About the Author
Anna Delight Jaquith lived in the Philippines for five years. She led
"Hearts on Fire" seminars in different cities and has spoken to many
young people. Anna is now back in the US studying at a Christian
Liberal
Arts college and Bible school.
from: www.omflit.com
Thursday, February 19, 2004
ON ADVERSITY
Romans 5:1-5
Bristlecones are the world’s oldest living pine trees. They’ve been able to survive some of the harshest living conditions on earth: artic temperatures, fierce winds, thin air and a little rainfall.
Their brittle environment is actually one of the reasons they’ve survived the millennia. Hardship produces extraordinary strength and staying power.
Adversity is part of the process that God uses to produce good results in our lives. Trouble, if it turns us to the Lord, could actually be the best thing for us. It leaves us wholly dependent to Him.
So we should pray not just for relief but for the grace to turn it into greater openness to God and to His will for us. Then we can be strong in calamity, and at peace in the place where God has planted us.
