Humility In Abundance

I learned something really nice last Sunday. The speaker quoted the verse Philippian 4:12

"I know indeed how to live in humble circumstances; I know also how to live with abundance. In every circumstance and in all things I have learned the secret of being well fed and of going hungry, of living in abundance and of being in need."

God has given us so many things. We are so blessed. So we must be humble. God allows us to be self-sufficient as a blessing. But we should trust in Him for all things. When I say trust though, doesn't mean we shouldn't do anything. We should still act accordingly and do our jobs and stuff like that, we just should be boastful about them and think it's because we're amazing as people. If anything, we are nothing and only vessels of God. I do hope He leads me in the path He wants me to be.

Passion For The Lord

The message I heard in church today revolved mainly around David and how he had fought so hard to gather the things needed to build the temple of God. The pastor spoke of his earnest desire to build the house of the Lord. However in the end, God said He didn't want David to build his temple, but his son instead.

The pastor spoke of how this didn't dishearten David, like how most of us would probably feel. But he was a humble man and even said that he would rather be a doorman in the house of the Lord than dwell in the tents of the wicked (not sure if that's how it's supposed to go)

The pastor encouraged us to have as much passion as David and seek after the Lord just as he did. I pray for that kind of passion as well.

(image from Crystalinks.com)

Wrong Creed Breeds Wrong Character

The message from church today was pretty enlightening. The speaker was a Singaporean missionary who was assigned in UK and London. Didn't catch his name though but his message was very insightful.

He said that sometimes we think since we go to church often or pray a lot, we know God but actually our perception of God may be wrong. And he's actually right.

One of his examples was that many times people think that just because God is "love" doesn't mean he'll just give us our heart's desire and pamper us all the time. More often than not we prefer to see God like that instead of being the kind of God He really is which is also a God who disciplines us. We'd like to perceive God just as a messiah and savior and discount the fact that He is supposed to be Lord of our lives as well. This then leads us to turn away from the Lord when things get difficult because we are unable to accept that a God who's supposed to be the definition of "love" can do such a thing to us.

The key phrase I got from this is that the wrong perception leads to the wrong reaction which becomes part and parcel of a messed up relationship. This applies to a lot of other relationships as well - our relationships with other people, not just God. However this is most significant when we think about our relationship with God because it is the very foundation of how we deal with other people in our lives.

I'm grateful to the Lord, He sent that guy to speak in our church

(image from Angeltalk.com)

What I Learned In Church Today - Be Tactful

I didn't get to stay long in church today because I was feeling under the weather but I'm glad to say that God gave me something to take away from that sermon even if I wasn't there for so long. One of the core messages of the church sermon I heard today was about being tactful.

Being tactful in today's church message was defined as "making your point without making an enemy." I think it's very practical and something that people can actually relate to day to day. We wouldn't have this much trouble between different religions if we can make our point without offending or demeaning other people.

So thank God for this word that He left me today and I hope it will bear fruit in my life.

When One Saved Us All

It's very lively where I am now, its the grade parade for the patron saint of the city if you believe in things like that. It hasn't been much of a prayerful time if that's what you're thinking. In fact the celebration itself has become less about the patron saint being celebrated than it is a commercial event.

The Sinulog festival here in Cebu is now more of a grand parade and Cebu City highlight compared to a solemn event. Many people believe that santo nino - the child saint for which this festival is named after is a reflection of Jesus Christ as a child.

In fact people from all over the world to see people dance on the streets and party all night. I have to admit, I have had my share of sinulog celebrations and it was indeed fun. Face painting, bar hopping, dancing and drinking are all part of the event.

Not to say that it's not fun and that it shouldn't be. But I made it a point today to go to church before the roads were blocked for the mardi gras parade. I wanted to thank God for the rich blessings of the city and of course my family.

In the end, I'm just glad Jesus came to die for our sins and for guiding us thus far.

Faith In Sickness

I was sick for about a week. Had Rubella Infection otherwise known as German Measles, it was quite a horrible experience too. Very discomforting and I had to stay away from my family because I was contagious.

This made me very lonely and sad. Kept praying that the Lord heal me. I asked God so many times if he could just take away the pain I'd really appreciate it. And then I also asked that if He could just bring me back home to my family again, that would be great too.

And here I am truly grateful for God's healing. It's difficult to have faith in times of sickness. I should know being stuck in a hospital bed for a week, coughing up blood with a sore throat.

God is indeed gracious. He provided for me while I was there in the hospital. I did have some visitors come by and there were people who expressed their concern and care. God never left me and He is with me still.

(image from Christnc.com)

New Year's Resolution

It's the New Year once again and everyone's bound to have a New Year's Resolution. Daily Bread just mentioned a few days ago that if you are in the market for a New Year's Resolution, one of which ought to be to slow life down instead of speed it up with so many goals.

If there is a worthy goal, it is to build up treasures in heaven where neither moth nor rust can destroy. I agree with all my heart. Just difficult sometimes when we badly need so much to survive these days (or maintain a lifestyle). But I guess the point here would be that, we should take life easy with a primary goal of God first before everything else. That way He should help us align all the things we need to get done according to His Will.

(image from Fitnessmatters.com)