Now I'm beginning to REALLY see why the Lord is placing His people out in the battlefield. God is allowing me to step out of my comfort zone and be the person that He wants me to be. I have always been asking Him to consume and use all of my being for His glory...and He really never fails to give that desire to His children. When we become transparent to what we say or declare unto the Lord, He can freely move and make His wonderful work in our lives. There will be transformation, breaking, consecration, and purification - perfectly made for the Master's pleasure.
And this what I get. I'm not complaining, in fact, I'm so grateful the Lord is letting me experience what I'm going through right now. I cherish every opportunity wherein I can learn something and develop a Christ-like character. It's not impossible to be conformed into His image. We need His awesome power, grace, and an active faith for change to finally take place in our lives. God's Word is faithful and true! In Him we have our hope and in the midst of our troubles, we can live each day looking unto Him...gaining strength and being refreshed to press on and run this race that Christ has set before us.
God is teaching me to show who He really is in my life as I live amongst the darkness and life's cruelty, in places where hope seems to fade and where hearts are shattered. This is not to present a showcase of my blessings, but to reflect Lord God Almighty through my speech, actions, and character. Showing God ALONE - what He can do and how He can mightily make a transformation in His children. That even though we could be experiencing as well what they are going through, we can show them directly to the One who brings unfailing love and hope - Jesus Christ. It definitely is a challenge, but that's what the Lord requires of us to do; it could be overwhelming, but we can say that we will never run out of His resources (grace, mercy, love, comfort, His Word, etc.). Amen to that!
Thank You Lord for Your Word! Hallelujah!
God's servant blogged @ | 12:08 AM
Hey everyone. 2 weeks have gone by but lots of things had taken place and i believe God is in control of everything.
A week ago, my sister just stepped into a more 'real world' - college life. By God's grace she'd be able to flourish as a child of God, being a light among her classmates & friends. God is a great provider. AMEN! We were able to pay for her registration and tuition fee; I want to say confidently that God is NEVER late nor too early in fulfilling His promises, if we would just trust completely unto Him. Hallelujah! The Lord sees our hearts, our desires. I saw the move of the Lord in my family and above all those trials and adversities, the glory of the Lord shines through. He giveth and taketh away, blessed be the Name of the Lord! We choose to bless and praise His holy Name.
Again, last week, broadband was installed in our pc. With a grateful heart, with a song of praise, with an outstretched arm, I will bless Your name. Thank You Lord! I just want to thank You Lord! It really was such a good timing coz my sister told me that almost everyday, they will be receiving their assignments and be sending their answers through email. So with this unlimited connection, she won't worry about getting disconnected or having slow up/download of files for her school work. Praise God!
Ministry. Let's talk about my joy in serving the Lord through ministry ;) Well, God is forever great and I always go home with sense of fulfillment and joy after doing church work. It could be misinterpreted that I am loving my ministry over my relationship with the Lord, nope. True enough that I love serving the Lord through my job but i find more joy in doing work for the Kingdom. The message last Sunday gripped my heart and encouraged me to hold on to the Lord's promises and vision that He has placed before me. Habakkuk 2:1-4 is one of my favorite Scriptures in the Bible. "For the vision is yet for an appointed time, though it tarries, wait for it..." I have received lots of Word and somewhat bits of confirmation of my calling, but i choose to WATCH, LOOK and WAIT for the perfect time that God has set for me. Everytime I get done with my ministry work, it's as if my heart wants to cry unto the Lord with questions - When will the Lord release me to the ministry? When will I stop doing what I'm doing (my job) and work full time in the ministry? And my favorite question: When will the Lord send me to Bible School??? Honestly up to now, I've been wondering about these things, most especially the last one. But with the verse that our speaker last Sunday has preached about, it gave me a fresh drive to be faithful with what I'm doing now, grow deeper with my relationship with the Lord and soon, in an appointed time, He will reveal to me His bigger plans and calling for my life. Hallelujah.
God is also dealing with me how to WAIT. Waiting patiently, and not idle waiting. Just enjoy the feeling of what I am now and be cautious with every move that I make, seeing it with he guidance of the Holy Spirit.
Surprises. I love surprises. For a long time (in the natural, i mean, kasi ever surprising si LordÜ) since...oh well, nevermind... I haven't been receiving such things that would make me cry and sit with shock (haha!) because of someone's kindness. It's been a long time since someone gave me something that surprised me like that.
So anyways, don't want to dwell too much on that area. Focused ako ngayon kay Lord, at dapat naman eh palaging ganun. Just wanna share - it's such a wonderful feeling when you begin the day talking to the Lord and meditating on His Word. Siyempre sabi naman ng iba, you can have your devotion anytime as long as you alot quality time with Him. But then, I realized the importance of chewing His Word and greeting the Lord in the morning, right after you open your eyes and get up from bed. it gets you on the go all throughout the day, no matter how terrible your day would be, it's important to have something to carry with you that is eternal, gives you hope and see the brighter side of the situation through the Lord's eyes. Ang sarap ng feeling ng ganun, promise!
Astig ng Mozilla Firefox!
Alright, that's all for now. God bless! See you around ;)
God's servant blogged @ | 10:35 AM
Nyahahaha! Hopefully when tomorrow comes, someone will be around here at home to accompany the guy from Globe Broadband!!!! thank You Lord!!! I've been dreaming of having one ever since I was in college; and now, with my sister newly entering college this coming school year, she'll have lots of perks when it comes to projects and assignments. Ito ang kabataan ng 2007! Haha!
I'm in a bliss right now, just like a kid getting her ice cream with her favorite flavor. Already imagining how kuya will install this and that to my computer and amping up my internet connection...woohoooooo!!! Sorry guys, can't help it. I remember going to Arra's place one time to check my email since i ran out of internet card and was waiting for someone's mail. When she said, "ate, sige, pwede ka na mag-check..." i instantly savored my moments clickin' here and there in just a whip! Haha! I can't believe I'm saying all this ignorance with high-speed internet connection.
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This coming Sunday will be our church's 28th anniversary. It'll be a different one...a yummy one! haha! After the morning service, we will be having Food Festival wherein everything can be bought for only P5.00!!! That's right folks. Hopefully our aim in harvesting souls as well would above all be a victorious one and that the compassion for the lost will increasingly burn in each and everyone's heart of our church.
Really excited for what the Lord will do in my life! Hallelujah for He never ceases to do great things in our lives and reflect His majesty and glory!
Ano ba ito, more than words can say talaga everytime na magsasalita ako about the Lord. HALLELUJAH!!!
God's servant blogged @ | 9:52 PM
No matter how frequent people would say that "no words can express" what took place at the recently concluded Guinayangan mission trip, i would still try with the best way that I can to declare how great the Lord has been in the lives of the people of Guinayangan and of the Youth Revive Team. Being expectant of the Lord’s victory during the almost 5-day event has brought my natural and spiritual state to a different perspective and level as well. His grace is truly sufficient and the Holy Spirit has always encouraged us to just rely on the Lord's power as long as we allow Him to move freely in every worship time, plenary session, altar call, or even during that one-time cell group discussion.
It has been informed of us before we got there that hopefully, the spiritual needs of the young people there has to be 'cultivated.' And just like how Ate Oss implicated the word 'cultivate', sometimes the outcome doesn't have to be overtly or instantly positive but this musn't limit us from keeping our faith from rising that something great will happen and that the Lord will make a transformation over the lives of the young people, and even to our own spiritual walk with the Lord. Thank God because He has already made His briefing through Ate Oss that we shouldn't be disheartened if we didn't see the that easily the response that we have expected of them, as seen during most youth revive fellowships and the like. During the first few sessions/altar calls, I was disappointed but immediately the Lord has replaced it with hope, telling me that He is soverign and He is presently molding their hearts; that I need not to worry about it but instead, nurture my hope with fervent prayers. I believe they all wanted to be vessels of honor, it's just that they are in struggle to allow God to burn their own personal "chaff". And God was and is faithful indeed! Nothing can really hinder His ways and it will always be fulfilled...in His perfect time. Every session/altar call, the Lord is little by little breaking every hindrance in the hearts and lives of these young people so they could be utilized maximally for His pleasure and glory. Even their responses after the preachings were having a progression, they were responding more quickly and I noticed their increasing desire to be pure and holy before the King. During the Friday afternoon session, when I honestly thought and prayed that the young people would comprehend what the speaker was preaching about since his approach was a bit different from the previous speakers. But God has vindicated the situation. It never was really about the manner of delivering His message (though in some way it still counts) - if He wants it done, He will make it happen in any way He pleases - may it be boring or dynamic in men’s perception. It shocked and amazed me when the a challenge was brought right in front of them and the young people freely surrendered themselves unto the Lord and fell down on their knees. The glory and presence of the Lord was so strong and when the song, "We choose the fear of the Lord" was sung, surely the spirit of holy reverence unto the Lord has clouded the whole place, and it was intensely felt by every person that time. Darkness shall increase but the light that we have received from the Lord shall burn more brightly and manifest righteousness through our lives by His grace. It is my prayer for these young people of Guinayangan to press on, be on fire for the Lord even if there's no grand activity such as the recent camp or huge gatherings; that they will continue to desire for excellence in all areas of their lives, approved solely by the Author and Perfecter of our faith, Jesus Christ.
The Lord always makes me stand in awe of His greatness on how He makes all things beautiful. There were times during the praise and worship when you all want to do is linger in His sweet presence; more of like growing deeper in love with our Savior even in the midst of spiritual battle when you just like to rest and refresh yourself anew for more exciting days are yet to come. Praise God and His majesty reigns forever!
For a couple of times I have been disappointed for not being able to join previous mission trips of Youth Revive since there were other priorities that needed to be addressed at those times. But then again, if you continue to desire for it and if it is under the will of the Lord, nothing and no one can hinder its fulfillment. This is my first time to be part of the mission team and it definitely was the Lord's perfect timing for me to be completely used for His glory. The moment I learned that I will be a worship leader in one of the sessions of that camp, three things suddenly struck me: this is going to be my first time to ever usher a larger number of people (not to mention 'type' of people) into worship; never rely on past victories; and keep a humble spirit. Since the only type of people I have led into worship were our church’s young people, anxiety started to set in but continuously asked the Lord's grace and leading of the holy spirit to be upon me. It'll be a bit more different this time, I said to myself. I asked Ate Licette and Kuya Arjun about the type of songs that the congregation sing so I'd have an inkling, one way or another. The moment I completed my line-up of songs, I began dwelling on His leading and allowed the Lord to stir up my heart through those songs. Many times before I was worried of the possibility of not being able to usher them into the presence of the Lord and it has greatly become part of my concern. And one of the wonderful things I have learned, bearing this responsibility, was to fully yield yourself and just worship the Lord in spirit and in truth, forsaking men’s approval but of God alone...leaving everything in His hands and on how He will minister into the hearts of the people.
Another is ministering to the young people through teaching and prayer. When you share the Word of the Lord and pray for them (like during altar calls), you really have to be careful on what you say and what you impart on them; that's why an honorable and sanctified vessel as a servant of the Lord must be something to be yearned for because you will also be held accountable of what you release and plant in their heart, spirit, and mind. It is a great responsibility and requires a greater judgment, but never should we be discouraged to pursue maturity for as we let the Lord refine us and become what He wants us to be, His glory continues to be reflected and wonderful rewards await us in heaven.
Aside from the fact that this is my first time joining a mission trip, this is by far one of the most unforgettable trips I've ever been to because once again the Lord has revealed unto me another confirmation of His calling. For a long time I have been praying unto the Lord to what my calling would be like since desires in my heart are starting to arise and I needed a clearer direction. After 5 years, I received a Word from the Lord and a prophecy. Nakakagulat talaga si Lord! I never expected that I will be hearing those things on such activity. Hallelujah! My desire for missions now is growing strong and the Lord always reminds me that He is bringing peace in my heart that I currently am at the center of His will. I cannot imagine myself being away from His presence; I know I will be secure and protected in His arms. Thank You Lord for this assurance! As I heard that prophecy, the next person who prayed for me has spoken a great encouragement from the Lord to experience 'crucified life' before receiving a new dimension in my life. Everyday I ask the Lord for the things that need to be sacrificed or my desires that should be set aside first to prioritize what the Lord wants me to fulfill at the present.
All glory and honor unto Him Who is able to keep us from falling! This mission trip was a great experience and wonderful training as I continue to be molded by the Lord for the fulfillment of His upward calling for my life. The Lord has already secured me of the reality that I will be experiencing discomfort in the whole duration of the trip and I praise God because it never has become my struggle ;) Hallelujah and thank You Lord!
GLORY TO GOD!!!
God's servant blogged @ | 2:40 PM
