Precious Words

We celebrated our church's Christmas party last Sunday, December 23rd. We had our service first then after that we had our lunch. Foods were all provided by our church. One of our church members there who is my uncle did the cooking and he donated the rice. He cooked 6 kilos of pork adobo , pinakbet and rice. My brother cooked chicken ( sisig ) and I made fruit salad with agar-agar . We served apple juice. We had some visitors who came for the first time. Everybody enjoyed the foods. After lunch we had the singing contest, memory verse contest, parlor games and the exchange gifts. Parlor games were sack race, pinoy henyo , longest line and kalamansi relay. The winners were given prizes. The kids had a blast. Everybody including adults were given chocolates and crackers.

Psalm 119:105-106 Life involves both small daily choices and large consequential ones. Including God in our decision-making is always the wisest course of action. The Scripture that we have memorized is something the Holy Spirit uses to help us discover God’s will. The pattern I have found beneficial in making decisions can also help you with choices regarding relationships, finances, health, employment, or other important areas. The first step involves assessing the heart, mind, and will. To receive the Lord’s direction, we need a clean heart, a clear mind, and a surrendered will. Sinful habits can cloud thinking and keep us from understanding His plan. Confessing our sins and turning from them brings cleansing and clarity (1 John 1:9). A stubborn will that says, “I want my way” prevents us from heeding God’s instruction. Instead, we need to surrender our desires and commit ourselves to saying yes to His plan. The second step is to wait patiently on the Lord for His an...

Last November 1st which was a holiday being an All Saints' Day in the Philippines, we set that day to go to the cemetery to give out gospel tracts to the people there. We all know that this is a day wherein people here go to the cemetery to visit their dead kinfolks and offer candles and flowers. This is a good time and opportunity to give out tracts to the people. Six kids from our church went went us and we brought with us 400 gospel tracts printed in Tagalog which we shipped from the states. It was hot in the afternoon but we endured the heat and went to the very crowded cemetery. At first, the kids were shy but I told them not to bashful and just hand the tracts to the people. They have seen George handed the tracts and the people received it. So they did as I told them and we roamed around the cemetery and handed out the gospel tracts. Some people ignored it, others asked if they have to pay for it but the kids answered it's for free. George passed out most of the tracts...

Deep down, there’s a place within each of us that is made for one thing—a relationship with God. No matter how hard we try to cover it up or fill it with something else, we will never be satisfied. Our hearts will remain restless until they find their home with God. That deep, hidden part of you is there, even if you haven’t realized it until now. Even though we sin, God doesn’t begrudge us our lives. In His kindness and mercy, He sustains us—blessing us even when we don’t know it—so we can eventually find the way back to Him. But if we don’t seek Him and His ways, or if we choose to reject Him, our spiritual deaths will be permanent. We will live apart from God and His goodness in eternity after we physically die. The Bible tells us that eternal life apart from God is to live in darkness, with no hope, no joy, and no love, forever. God doesn’t want anyone to experience permanent death (2 Peter 3:9). He loved us so much that He devised a plan to free us from the gras...

Now when Jesus was risen early the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had cast seven devils. Mark 16:9 KJV The apostle Paul went from throwing Christians into prison to leading non-Christians into the kingdom of God. John Newton went from being a slave trader to being a pastor and hymn-writer. Nicky Cruz went from being a New York City gang member to being a street evangelist for Christ. The late Chuck Colson went from White House "Hatchet Man" to prison evangelist and apologist. Meeting Christ always results in life-change, but sometimes the change is  radical . Take a woman named Mary, from the Galilee town of Magdala, for example. We know little about her pre-Christian life except that she was possessed by seven demonic spirits, from which Jesus delivered her. We can only assume that being possessed by seven demons created a chaotic life. By comparison, after being freed from them, Mary became a faithful follower o...

We have three days more to go before going back home in the Philippines. We've been here in the US for the past 4 months visiting our friends and loved ones and now we're just want to go home and continue doing the work of the Lord. Our ministry there need us. I was already packing our suitcases and I have to pack too my wrap around sunglasses which I received from Firmoo a few days ago. These wrap around sunglasses are so beautifully crafted for extreme charm and glamor. The frame is constructed of high qualified plastic, bold and durable. Their prices range from $40 to $44.90 each. The good thing is I got this for free so I can make a review about it in my blog. I love my Firmoo wrap around sunglasses because they are light, fashionable and chic. I'm pretty sure we will be going to the beach when we go back home to my homeland because hubby just love going there. My Firmoo sunglasses would be of great help for me to shield my eyes from the UV rays of the sun. Can...

John Bunyan was converted to Christ from a vile and profane life, and he wanted to tell everyone about it. When he started preaching in his little town of Bedford, England, he was arrested and imprisoned. This was in the days when only ministers for the Church of England could freely preach. Though Bunyan spent years in prison, his voice was never silenced. In fact, during his imprisonment he wrote his great classic  Pilgrim's Progress  and his autobiography, which he entitled  Grace Abounding to the Chief of Sinners . According to Bunyan, had it not been for "a miracle of precious grace," he would have perished by the stroke of eternal justice.1 The word "grace" means: God's Riches At Christ's Expense. It's God's favor freely bestowed on us in Christ. As we share the Gospel with others, grace should be among the first words on our lips--abounding grace, amazing grace. How sweet the sound! His whole gospel is a gospel of g...

In 1934, Adolf Hitler summoned German church leaders to his Berlin office to berate them for insufficiently supporting his programs. Pastor Martin Niemöller explained that he was concerned only for the welfare of the church and of the German people. Hitler snapped, "You confine yourself to the church. I'll take care of the German people." Niemöller replied, "You said that ‘I will take care of the German people.' But we too, as Christians and churchmen, have a responsibility toward the German people. That responsibility was entrusted to us by God, and neither you nor anyone in this world has the power to take it from us."  It's easy to be intimidated today, for Christian values and convictions are the laughingstock of a godless society. But this is no time to be on the defensive. Christ overturned the moneychangers in the temple without flinching. If Jesus stood firm in His day and Niemöller in his, we can stand for Christ today--as bold as a lion. T...

By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; "and was not found, because God had translated him": for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God.  Hebrews 11:5 In today's world, the "centenarian club"--those living to age 100 or more--is a select group. Thousands of years ago, prior to the great flood, the goal was not living to 100 but living to 1,000! No one made it, but Methuselah came closest, dying at age 969 years (Genesis 5:27). Methuselah's father, Enoch, was a rarity in those days--he lived only 365 years. But there was a special reason why his lifespan on earth was cut short.  Enoch's life on earth ended unexpectedly because God removed him from earth, presumably to heaven. We are not told why God took Enoch, but we are given two clues. First, Enoch "walked with God" (Genesis 5:22). Noah is the only other person in the Bible who "walked with God" (Genesis 6:9). Second, we are ...

Hubby and I want to put some sheep rugs in our room to make it look more comfy. Right now we only have the vinyl tiles on it that we put since we renovated our bedroom. It looks spacious now, the size was doubled and aside from putting a new rug, we are planning also to put a new mattress. But that would be later, when we have more budget. We need to put sheepskin seat covers to our car to make it look comfy too. Our car really needs an upgrade because it's a pre-loved car but still runs good. We would like to buy a van but we're still saving money to buy one. So right now, we have to be contented with what we have. Later on, when God will give the blessings, then we can buy what we want. We really need a van for our church so we can use it for our church ministry. I was browsing the internet and I happened to see this website where we can buy sheepskin products for our room and car and comfyship.com got what I want. Try to check it out folks and see it for yourselves. You migh...

Professor : You are a Christian, aren’t you, son ? Student : Yes, sir. Professor: So, you believe in GOD ? Student : Absolutely, sir. Professor : Is GOD good ? Student : Sure. Professor: Is GOD all powerful ? Student : Yes. Professor: My brother died of cancer even though he prayed to GOD to heal him. Most of us would attempt to help others who are ill. But GOD didn’t. How is this GOD good then? Hmm? (Student was silent.) Professor: You can’t answer, can you ? Let’s start again, young fella. Is GOD good? Student : Yes. Professor: Is satan good ? Student : No. Professor: Where does satan come from ? Student : From … GOD … Professor: That’s right. Tell me son, is there evil in this world? Student : Yes. Professor: Evil is everywhere, isn’t it ? And GOD did make everything. Correct? Student :Yes Professor: So who created evil ? (Student did not answer.) Professor: Is there sickness? Immorality? Hatred? Ugliness? All these terrible things exist in the world, don’t they? Student : Yes, sir....

You can change. None of us is the same person we were a year ago or a decade ago. Our bodies are changing--there's no denying that. But our minds, hearts, habits, personalities, and relationships are changing too. We just need to make sure we are changing for the better, that we're being transformed from glory to glory, that we're growing in the grace and knowledge of Christ. Those who refuse to change are not God-fearers, because those who love Him are changing every day. Don't be afraid to make some changes in your life, and don't be afraid to let Christ change you from within. I'll go anywhere as long as it's forward. -David Livingstone Because they have no changes, therefore they fear not God. Psalm 55:19b KJV

The word "procrastinate" comes from a Latin compound word: pro meaning "forward," and crastinus indicating "of tomorrow"--from cras , meaning "tomorrow." So, "procrastinate" means to move or put something from today until tomorrow (or the day after tomorrow, ad infinitum ). Most things in life that need to be done--pay the bills, paint the house, change the oil in the car--will allow for a few "tomorrows" before they absolutely have to be done. Why? Because if you die before you get the house painted, it will be an inconvenience for someone else, but not the end of the world. But there are other things in life that don't allow for such putting off since they have eternal ramifications. Most importantly is one's own decision regarding Christ. Hebrews 9:27 says we die and then comes the judgment--there are no tomorrows, do-overs, mulligans, or second chances when it comes to salvation. You can survive if you procra...

Evangelist D. L. Moody had just started preaching a sermon on Galatians 6:7 when a man in the audience stood up and shouted, "I don't believe it." In 2005 scientists germinated a date palm seed that was recovered from Herod the Great's palace atop Masada in the Judean wilderness--making it around 2,000 years old. And a 1,300-year-old lotus seed recovered from China was germinated in 1995.* These remarkable examples of preservation, however, are more the exception than the rule. Seed companies today don't normally guarantee the viability of their seed for more than a few years. Lots of things determine the quality of a harvest: the quality of the seed, the number of seeds sown, the quality of the soil, and the amounts of moisture and nutrients provided. And the same is true with spiritual harvest. God's laws of the harvest apply to the sowing we perform. If our seeds are our good works, our financial investments, our prayers, our study, and our service and wor...

There's an ancient parable, "The Monkey's Fist," that teaches a profound lesson. Native tribes would catch monkeys by hollowing out coconuts, filling them with bait, then tethering them to trees to lure the monkeys. When the monkey reached into the small opening in the coconut, his hand fit. But once his fist was full of the bait, he couldn't retrieve it--the monkey was trapped. The lesson for all of us is that the coconut was not the monkey's undoing, but rather his greedy unwillingness to let go of the bait. I know a lot of people like that. They clutch their material possessions so tightly in the attitude of their hearts that worry handicaps them, negatively impacting their faith, their family and friends, and their future. If only they would put God first, giving Him what belongs to Him--their time, talents, and treasures--then they could quit worrying about their future. If you are grasping something tightly right now, you're in a trap and need to rel...