He will not abandon us!

"Ah, stubborn children," declares the LORD,   "who carry out a plan, but not mine,   and who make an alliance, but not of my Spirit,     that they may add sin to sin...." -Isaiah 30:1

This only shows how sinful we really are. We tend to do our own thing until we realize that we have drifted away so long from Him. 

I praise our God because He is our ever loving, patient, gracious, merciful Father. He is our ever forgiving God.

He will not abandon us, His children. 

Read the following verses and see for yourself how great He is indeed. Worthy of all our praises. Worthy of our worship.

Isaiah 30: 18 Therefore the LORD waits to be gracious to you, and therefore he exalts himself to show mercy to you. For the LORD is a God of justice; blessed are all those who wait for him. 19 For a people shall dwell in Zion, in Jerusalem; you shall weep no more. He will surely be gracious to you at the sound of your cry. As soon as he hears it, he answers you. 20 And though the Lord give you the bread of adversity and the water of affliction, yet your Teacher will not hide himself anymore, but your eyes shall see your Teacher. 21 And your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, "This is the way, walk in it," when you turn to the right or when you turn to the left. 22 Then you will defile your carved idols overlaid with silver and your gold-plated metal images. You will scatter them as unclean things. You will say to them, "Be gone!" 23 And he will give rain for the seed with which you sow the ground, and bread, the produce of the ground, which will be rich and plenteous. In that day your livestock will graze in large pastures, 24 and the oxen and the donkeys that work the ground will eat seasoned fodder, which has been winnowed with shovel and fork. 25 And on every lofty mountain and every high hill there will be brooks running with water, in the day of the great slaughter, when the towers fall. 26 Moreover, the light of the moon will be as the light of the sun, and the light of the sun will be sevenfold, as the light of seven days, in the day when the LORD binds up the brokenness of his people, and heals the wounds inflicted by his blow. 27 Behold, the name of the LORD comes from afar, burning with his anger, and in thick rising smoke; his lips are full of fury, and his tongue is like a devouring fire; 28 his breath is like an overflowing stream that reaches up to the neck; to sift the nations with the sieve of destruction, and to place on the jaws of the peoples a bridle that leads astray. 29 You shall have a song as in the night when a holy feast is kept, and gladness of heart, as when one sets out to the sound of the flute to go to the mountain of the LORD, to the Rock of Israel. 30 And the LORD will cause his majestic voice to be heard and the descending blow of his arm to be seen, in furious anger and a flame of devouring fire, with a cloudburst and storm and hailstones. 31 The Assyrians will be terror- stricken at the voice of the LORD, when he strikes with his rod. 32 And every stroke of the appointed staff that the LORD lays on them will be to the sound of tambourines and lyres. Battling with brandished arm, he will fight with them. 33 For a burning place has long been prepared; indeed, for the king it is made ready, its pyre made deep and wide, with fire and wood in abundance; the breath of the LORD, like a stream of sulfur, kindles it.

Help Someone in Need

How does it feel to help someone in need? As we look at people around, there are so many of them who need help. So many of them who don't know where to go. 

Do you know that God works through our hands to help others? Of course! But when we help, it should not be out of our emotion. It should be in faith as we abide in Him.

The word says...

You must actively help the hungry and feed the oppressed. Then your light will dispel the darkness, and your darkness will be transformed into noonday. -Isaiah 58:10

I had my own experience of helping somebody out of my own emotion. I was feeling pity with the person whom I thought I knew well enough.

When we were renting an apartment, we had an aircon cleaner in the person of Christian. He did it twice in 6 months interval. After about 3 months, he texted me again if he could clean our aircon. I refused to his offer since our aircon was not yet due for cleaning. It was too soon had I let him. He was asking for favor because his daughter was brought to the hospital due to dengue fever. Learning about this situation really touched my heart, having a daughter myself. I felt sorry for him. On the other hand, Divine and I knew that we were financially challenged at that time. 

I was having an appointment so I had to leave my family at the apartment and headed my way to the appointment. While driving, I tuned in to DZAS and the messenger was having an exposition on, "I am sending you out like sheep surrounded by wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves."-Matthew 10:16. He also gave some practical examples. I thought about Christian and the possibility that he was just swindling me. I brushed off the thought. In fact, I left an envelope with P400 for Christian and instructed him to pick it up from our compound guard on duty. That was the advanced payment for the next aircon cleaning. I also instructed the guard to not allow him to enter the gate. I also called up Divine to just lock the door. 

After an appointment, on my way home, Christian texted me again begging for help because he badly needed P3,000 more. When I arrived at the gate of our apartment, he was waiting there. He showed me some pictures of his so-called daughter and wife. I asked him some info about the hospital where his daughter was confined, the name of his daughter and many more. I did my mental note taking.

 Every time I am faced with issues on poverty, my heart softens. Maybe because I could empathize. That was exactly what I felt for Christian but I had only to give P1,000 more to the P400 I already gave. I prayed for him, at the same time, there's this inner drive to  investigate the situation. I thought of going with him to the hospital. I also thought, what if it wasn't true and I will just be trapped under his scheme? I asked for Divine's input. "What is God leading you?", her immediate reply.

Divine and I prayed about it before going to bed that night. We sought God about it. 

Early morning of the following day, I received a text from him that he really needed my help. If it's okay with me, he can have his CP pawned at P3000. He needed to buy medicines for her daughter. Since Divine and I had to bring Ardi to the clinic that day, I asked him to see us at St. Luke's with the receipts prescribed by the doctor. I dropped Divine and Ardi at St. Luke's while Dana and I went to Burger King. We waited for Christian there. As soon as I received a message from him, I saw him from a distance, across the street, from our table inside the Burger King. It was so vivid. There was a smile on his face from a distance with another guy accompanying him. I doubted. There's a strong impression in my mind that something wrong is going on. I was already operating more on my mind over what I felt for his situation. As soon as they approached us at the table, I also noticed that the guard changed his post and stood near us at the exit side door. Must be God sent help for us. I asked Christian for the list of medicines prescribed by the doctor but he had nothing to show. I asked how his daughter was and in what hospital. He mentioned a different hospital name. There were inconstancies already. It was a red flag indication for me. So sad. I thought I was helping the right person. I told him that I cannot help him. I told him that we are missionaries. I told him about the value of money for us. He defended himself and even asked me to go with them to see the proof. Worst might have happened if we did. 

I called up the hospital to confirm about his daughter who was confined there but none of her name was in the list. 

I was swindled. 

I thank God that above all, I could still see His hand of protection. I appreciate His way of teaching me His valuable lesson on being sensitive to Him and His wisdom available if I ask in faith. 

But if anyone is deficient in wisdom, he should ask God, who gives to all generously and without reprimand, and it will be given to him. -James 1:5

I will guide you in the way of wisdom and I will lead you in upright paths. -Proverbs 4:11

Photos after Typhoon Glenda

These are the photos taken after typhoon Glenda left our area...

We praise God for:

1. Safety of our family and countrymen.

2. No electricity. We had time to rest and reflect in our home. The weather was not so hot.

3. No classes. We had to stay with our kids.

4. Discomfort this storm brought to us - reminding us that only in Him we can have the real comfort.

5. The thought that God is in control.

Star Apple tree uprooted by Glenda...

Leaving muds on the street from the creek's overflow...

Our house is located about 5 meters above and 200 meters away from the Subdivision's gate. 

In the midst of the Storm

Sitting by the front of our doorway

Gazing upon the trees unceasingly sway 

Thinking about our countrymen today

Storm surge Glenda may cause dismay

Praying to God who is in control

Simply resting in Him is a sure call

Meditating on His unfailing greatness

Remembering His power & goodness

Singing a song to find rest in my God

In Christ alone, the King over the flood

I put my trust and quite my heart

For His plan I can never ever thwart.

STILL 

(Hillsong United)

Hide me now

Under Your wings

Cover me

Within Your mighty hand

When the oceans rise and thunders roar

I will soar with You above the storm

Father you are King over the flood

I will be still, know You are God

Find rest my soul

In Christ alone

Know His power

In quietness and trust

When the oceans rise and thunders roar

I will soar with You above the storm

Father You are king over the flood

I will be still, know You are God

He is indeed our strong refuge

No matter how the troubles so huge

We do not fear nor give in to any reasons to fret

Though mountains tremble, to Him our eyes are set.

Remembering my journey in Him these years

Amidst the troubling storms and tears

Brings back praises to my lips 

To a God Almighty who never sleeps

  

Psalm 46:1 God is our strong refuge; he is truly our helper in times of trouble. 2 For this reason we do not fear when the earth shakes, and the mountains tumble into the depths of the sea, 3 when its waves crash and foam, and the mountains shake before the surging sea. 

Statistics - does God care?

Let's look at these verses...

So those who accepted his message were baptized, and that day about three thousand people were added. -Acts 2:41

But many of those who had listened to the message believed, and the number of the men came to about five thousand. -Acts 4:4

So the churches were being strengthened in the faith and were increasing in number every day. -Acts 16:5

Don't you think God is concerned about numbers? Doesn't  He care about statistics? 

I believe God loves numbers.

God is so concerned about statistics.

Behind every number is an individual.

Behind every individual is a name.

Behind every name is a story.

And every story matters to God.

So beautiful in our Sight!

On our way home from an appointment, we saw a long alley of ornamental garden. So beautiful in our sight. We parked our car along the road opposite to the garden and had our sight seeing in that garden. 

Many of my friends knew that I love the color green. So cold in the eyes. So relaxing. Having gazed closely at these plants brought a delight in my eyes and a feeling of having peace and assurance of a healthy growing relationship and life. That's how it meant for me. 

              

These plants, actually, can help to regulate temperature, keeping a climate more temperate and comfortable while acting as air scrubbers, removing pollution and keeping the air fresh and clean in and around our house.  An ornamental garden can also provide habitat for birds, butterflies, and other creatures. Hmmm, can our house look like this, with the limited space that we have? :)

As I looked at our pictures once again, I'm reminded of this passage:

Psalm 144: Then our sons will be like plants, that quickly grow to full size. Our daughters will be like corner pillars, carved like those in a palace. 13 Our storehouses will be full, providing all kinds of food. Our sheep will multiply by the thousands and fill our pastures. 14 Our cattle will be weighted down with produce. No one will break through our walls, no one will be taken captive, and there will be no terrified cries in our city squares. 15 How blessed are the people who experience these things! How blessed are the people whose God is the Lord!

Ate Lisa on her most important decision in life!

TODAY, Ate Lisa, our household family help, made the most important decision in her life. 

Just this morning, while having our breakfast, we were at the same time listening to a testimony of a lady through the live streaming site of Christ's Commission Fellowship. Our conversation went on about having a  personal relationship with Jesus. I directly asked Ate Lisa if she already made a personal decision to invite Jesus to be the Lord and Savior of her life. She said she already knew about Jesus. That He is God and that, He died on the cross. Divine already shared the gospel with her weeks ago but she was not ready --- not even ready to forgive those who hurt her. I asked, "What does it mean to you now that Jesus is God? That he died on the cross?" She paused and pondered on my question. I saw her lips trembling as if she was about to cry. Then She started to cry.  

I continued to explain about what does receiving Christ in our life mean. I asked her again, "Now, would you like to invite Jesus into your life to be your Lord and Savior?" It's not about a new religion. It's about a new relationship with God if you put your trust in Jesus and invite Him to come into your life. Today is July 12. Remember, if you do invite Him to come into your life right now through this prayer, He will surely come into your life. You need to seriously ask Him. It's not the words you say, but it's the attitude of your heart that matters to Him."

 

She said YES. She prayed this prayer in tagalog as I led her phrase by phrase:

"Lord Jesus, I need you. Thank you for dying on the cross for my sins. I open the door of my life and receive you as my Savior and Lord. Thank you for forgiving my sins and giving me eternal life. Take control of the throne of my life and make me the kind of person You want me to be. Amen!"

Dana and Ardi were wondering why she was crying. And so I did a short explanation to them that Ate Lisa was surrendering her life to Jesus. That she received Jesus into her life to be her Lord and Savior.

We proceeded our discussion about Ate Lisa's newfound faith in Christ, now that she's a new creation. That her relationship with God is secure. That He will never leave her nor forsake her. That she is now a child of God. That we are brothers and sisters in Christ. That God loves her and wants her to grow in Him.

Today is July 12, 2014. Today is Ate Lisa's Spiritual Birthday! The Heaven rejoices over this one soul who came to know the Lord Jesus Christ. 

What is your story of God's pursuing relationship towards His people? 

Check this link to know more about what I explained to Ate Lisa on having a personal relationship with God through Jesus ---http://www.campuscrusade.com/fourlawseng.htm